England complete a resounding victory
History Makers—Part XXXVII
What follows is the latest installment in our series on the inaugural women’s Ashes tour of 1934/35. The previous installment is here.
19th February 1935
New Zealand v England (Only Test) 16th and 18th February 1935
Close of Play Final Day : England 5-503 declared (EA Snowball 189, ME Hide 110, EM Childs 86*, MA Richards 48*, HE Archdale 27, R Symons 2-71) beat New Zealand 122-9 all out. (MC Bishop 27, ME Marks 23, HE Buck 16, PH Savin 15, JE Partridge 4-60) by an innings and 337 runs.
Child’s Play
Although New Zealand was much improved in all areas, restricting England in the opening overs and dismissing Archdale, England gave the crowd extra entertainment for the first hour on the final day of their tour. As Archdale returned to the pavilion, she could reflect on her part in the historic tour. Mary Richards took her place, and with Mollie Childs, took the bowlers to task, adding 71 runs in 47 minutes before the declaration at 5-503. Richards hit seven fours in scoring 48 not out, taking advantage of depleted bowling resources. When New Zealand’s most successful and economical bowler, Ruth Symons, came on to bowl, Richards hit her second ball high towards the boundary for four. However, disaster struck when the score reached 450. Symons, fielding on the boundary, was struck in the face attempting to stop a high ball from Richards and had to retire from the field. She would be unable to take any further part in the game.
Injuries
New Zealand showed much more confidence in their second innings, with the openers complimenting each other. Margaret Marks played cautiously, but Hilda Buck took opportunities to score until Buck top-edged a ball from Maclagan and retired hurt with a score of 15. Pat Savin replaced her and started brightly, adding 18 runs before lunch.
When Savin only added a further single before Richards caught her, New Zealand’s batters began to be more aggressive. Mabel Corby and Marge Bishop scored valuable runs as Marks stayed doggedly at the other end. They took the score 4-92, but wickets began to fall regularly, including Buck, who returned when the fifth wicket fell. Joy Partridge was England’s best bowler, her slow-flighted bowling perplexing the batters. Marks continued to bat well until she was run out for 23; the home team’s innings came to a close, with Ruth Symons being unable to bat.
Long time records and a long wait
Snowball and Hide put on 235 for the second wicket, Snowball scoring 189. This second-wicket partnership record stood for eight decades, until Thirush Kamini (192) and Punam Raut (130) put on 275 for India against South Africa in November 2014.
It was the highest partnership for any wicket until 24th July 1987, when Lindsay Reeler and Denise Annetts completed their 309-run third-wicket partnership at Collingwood.
Snowball’s innings remained the highest score in women’s Tests until July 13th and 14th, 1986, when Sandhya Agarwal scored 190 for India against England at Worcester.
Ina Pickering (Lamason): New Zealand cap number 18
Ina Pickering was due to take the field as vice-captain during the First Test, but withdrew due to a pulled leg muscle. Even though she led New Zealand in a non-Test tour of Australia in 1938, she would wait fourteen years before her Test debut in 1948, when she again captained New Zealand. She remains the sixth-oldest Test player, having made her final appearance at 42 years and 86 days in 1954, one day fewer than Grace Morgan, the scorer in the Test Match.