The first match I attended would have been CD vs Auckland in Wanganui in the 1970s. My Dad was on the local committee, so was one of those to drive out to the airport to pick up the Auckland team. On the way to the hotel, I sat on the knee of one of the three tall fast bowlers in the back seat (Gary Troup, John Cushen, one other I don't recall...). Of the game, Robert Anderson made a lot of runs, and my Dad was part of the committee to decide on the Man of Match. As the match petered out to a likely draw, the committee gave it to Anderson. At which point the CD skipper threw him the ball for an over - and Mark Burgess took about 30 off the over (8 ball overs back then, and Cooks Gardens, being a grass running track inside a velodrome, had ridiculously short side boundaries), after which Auckland cantered to an easy win...
My first test was a lot later, and I watched every ball as Jimmy Adams and Junior Murray, and Lara and Arthurton scored mega runs against Sua, Doull, Hart and somebody else, before Courtenay Walsh took about 12 wickets to embarass what was a pretty awful batting line-up (Darren Murray opening with Bryan Young....). Wellington, 1995 I think.