The birth of first-class cricket in New Zealand

On the 150th anniversary of first-class cricket in New Zealand, the Otago Daily Times' Gavin Bertram looks back on the Otago v Canterbury match in Dunedin that started it all.

''The Cantabrians had practised on firm wickets at Hagley Park and were ill-prepared for the quagmire awaiting them after they had battled south by sea against gale-force winds. Although the Oval had been recently turfed as a gesture to the visiting Englishmen, recent rain and the fact that cattle had wandered over the ground the night before the match made for atrocious conditions.''