The First Test: Australia v New Zealand. A Historic Match for Over 50s Cricket.
Cricket Australia Masters | April 17, 2026
Mainpower Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand — 18, 19, 20 February 2026
History was made at Mainpower Oval when New Zealand Over 50s and Australia Over 50s walked out for the inaugural Test match in Over 50s cricket. The Australians took the field as freshly-capped Test cricketers, each player presented with a baggy green and an official Test cap number, a moment a year in the making, and the vision of Guy Randell, President of Cricket Australia Masters Over 50s, and his board and our New Zealand counterparts Jim Morrison and Pierre Flavell. What had long been the domain of younger generations was now open, formally and on the record, to a generation that had never stopped loving the game. And, hopefully, one that always will.
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Rob Frew won the toss for New Zealand and sent Australia in. With 42 runs on the board Peter Kane took the first test wicket in over 50s cricket and Steve Mace compiled a beautifully constructed 108 off168 balls, eight fours, two sixes. The first century in Over 50s Test cricket. Australia Captain Brian May made a composed 51 and Simon Neich scored 40. From a position of strength at 3/207, Australia lost 7/95, with Adil Somani’s leg-spin doing the damage at 4/63 and Australia was bowled out for 302.
New Zealand’s reply hung in the balance at 5/91. Then came a terrific partnership between Adil Somani and Leigh Kelly when they added 165 for the sixth wicket. Somani went on to a magnificent 102 off 181 with sixteen fours, Kelly a fluent 75. But the bowling figures of the match belonged to Peter Dell: 26 overs, 11 maidens, 6/51. The first 5 wicket haul on Over 50s test cricket and the kind of spell that announces a player to the history books. New Zealand finished on 324, a slender lead of 22.
Mace backed up his first innings century with 125 off 165. Back-to-back centuries in the first Test of Over 50s cricket, sixteen fours and a six. May added 66, Neich a brisk 39 not out, and May declared at 5/262, leaving New Zealand 241 to chase in fading time.
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The Kiwis lost four for 44 and the match looked alive. But Damien Grant and Kelly held firm through the closing overs, the chase abandoned, the match drawn and the first chapter of Over 50s Test cricket written.
The scoreboard recorded a draw. The day recorded something far bigger. Two teams in creams walked off Mainpower Oval as playing a test match for the first time in their lives and created a piece of cricket history.
Our thanks also go to umpires Peter Tate (Australia) and Dave Paterson (New Zealand) for their valuable contributions and efforts throughout the match.
A personal thank you to Pierre Flavell, who worked tirelessly alongside the Canterbury Cricket Club groundstaff to make the occasion even more special.
Players, clubs, and supporters are already asking when the next one will be, the appetite for more is clear.
Click to see full scorecard courtesy of NV Play
Back Row - Guy Randell (President), Steve Mace, Paul Ryan, Andrew Kratzmann, James Morris, Glenn Cleary, Peter Dell, Brett James, Michael Van Zuyden (Manager).
Front Row - Matt Harris, Andrew Sharp, Anthony Barranca, Brian May (Captain), Simon Neich (Vice Captain), Mark Wade, Jason Simmons.
