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Kiwi of the Week

Bernard Freyberg

A First World War hero and commander of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Bernard Freyberg was British-born but New Zealand-raised. He proved to be a charismatic and popular military leader who would later serve a term as Governor-General

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Today in History

13 March

1956 NZ's first test cricket victory

New Zealand was already 3-0 down going into the final test at Eden Park against a strong West Indies team that included household names like Everton Weekes and Gary Sobers. New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first, scoring a modest 255 runs. A captain’s knock of 84 by John Reid was the mainstay of the innings. Cantabrian Tony MacGibbon and Central District’s Harry Cave then took four wickets each as the West Indies were dismissed for 145.

New Zealand declared its second innings closed at 157/9, wicketkeeper Sam Guillen top scoring with 41. Intertestingly, Guillen was himself a West Indian and had played test cricket for that side in the 1951-52 season.

The West Indies were set 267 for victory. New Zealand was not to be denied, however, and another 4-wicket haul by Cave saw the visitors skittled for just 77. After 22 losses and 22 draws in 26 years of test cricket, New Zealand had finally tasted victory at the top level of the sport.