• National first-class championship still going down to the wire
Defending champion Wellington is fighting tooth and nail with Canterbury in the capital; wet weather has cost frontrunner Northern Districts valuable time in Dunedin; and the Central Stags look set to finish with a roar as the last two days of the Plunket Shield commence – with results still on the cards in all three matches.
In Dunedin
Wet weather cost an entire session yesterday morning at University of Otago Oval where Northern Districts needs regular wickets today — day three of four — to stay on course for a dream finish, not only to their 2024/25 season in which they are looking to end a long-running title drought, but to retiring star Neil Wagner’s New Zealand Domestic career.
Northern captain Jeet Raval yesterday declared at 411/7 (first innings) and had the Otago Volts 81/4 by stumps in the first innings reply, the Volts trailing by 330.
Play did not begin until 2pm, and the day ended prematurely for bad light.
In Wellington
At the Cello Basin Reserve, both teams remain a chance of lifting the Shield, if Northern is denied in Dunedin.
There’s been little in it. Canterbury took a first innings lead of just five runs, replying to Wellington’s 269 with 274.
Rookie Sam Mycock’s career best 73 was key for the hosts while Ish Sodhi made his highest score for Canterbury, a vital 70, in his 100th first-class appearance (all teams) and Firebird Liam Dudding again impressed at the Basin in his first summer with Wellington, with 4/75.
The Firebirds will begin “moving day” this morning leading Canterbury by 32 runs with all 10 second innings wickets in hand.
In Palmerston North
The Central Stags are looking to spin it to win it after reducing the Auckland Aces to 62/6 in the second innings by stumps on a whirlwind second day.
The Fitzherbert Park deck has offered turn to slow bowlers on both sides of the match, with 15 wickets in total having fallen to spin so far.
The Aucklanders will resume with an overall lead of just 27 and four wickets in hand this morning, including captain Cam Fletcher on 11*.
Stags left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox has 3/17 overnight, after having taken 4/60 in the first innings while his spin twin Angus Schaw has 1/16 to go with his first innings haul of 3/27.
The Stags had taken a moderate 35-run first innings lead yesterday afternoon, before the Aces’ second innings collapse put Central in the driver’s seat with two days to go.
All matches are scheduled to resume at 10.30am, with live-scoring and free livestreams available at ww.nzc.nz, on the NZC app and on NZC YouTube.
All matches are free admission.
RECENT CHAMPIONS
2023/24 Wellington Firebirds
2022/23 Central Stags
2021/22 Auckland Aces
2020/21 Canterbury
2019/20 Wellington Firebirds
2018/19 Central Stags
2017/18 Central Stags
2016/17 Canterbury
2015/16 Auckland Aces
2014/15 Canterbury
2013/14 Canterbury
2012/13 Central Stags
2011/12 Northern Districts
2010/11 Canterbury
2009/10 Northern Districts
