Early next week, either Northern Districts or the Wellington Firebirds will be crowned as the Plunket Shield champions for 2023/24, and they're playing each other from this Sunday for that privilege. Check out the tale of the tape.
The two top teams on the national first-class table are the only teams left in the hunt for one of New Zealand's oldest sporting trophies and, as luck would have it, they are scheduled to meet each other in the season's final round of four-day matches that begins this Sunday in Hamilton, Napier and Auckland: effectively, it's a final.
Should Northern win the Plunket Shield, it will end a considerable drought.
Northern has been victorious in the T20 format four times since a breakthrough title in that format in 2014, yet have lifted neither the Plunket Shield nor The Ford Trophy since 2012 and 2010, respectively (and in 2009/10, they had done the first-class/one-day double).
Recent Champions
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
A Northern triumph this summer would also mean five different Major Associations would end up holding the annual trophies.
The Auckland Aces won the men's Dream11 Super Smash. Wellington Blaze won the women's Dream11 Super Smash. Canterbury won The Ford Trophy, and the Otago Sparks, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in the one-day arena.
That's an uncommon occurrence - and one the Wellington Firebirds will be happy to prevent.
On top: the Wellington Firebirds | PHOTOSPORT
The Firebirds will head in to the last round as only undefeated team after seven matches, while ND suffered their only loss in the latest round, away to Canterbury in Rangiora.
The Plunket Shield lead has see-sawed between the Firebirds and Northern Districts across the last few rounds, and the Firebirds (on 87 points) will be heading to the decisive game in Hamilton holding a narrow, four-point advantage over Northern (83 points) - with a maximum of 20 points on the table should either side win outright.
Both teams can earn up to eight first innings points (included in the 20 possible points, alongside 12 for an outright win).
What happens if the two teams hold each other to a draw, and also, finish equal on points? In that case, they would also be equal on the first countback: number of wins, with both teams having won four of their seven rounds to date.
Hamilton's hungry hosts, Northern Districts | PHOTOSPORT
So that scenario would see the Plunket Shield decided on the next separator: net runs per wicket over the whole competition, with ND currently ahead of the Firebirds on this score.
The beautiful silver and wood Plunket Shield has been on the line since the 1906/07 season, and is regarded by players as the hardest trophy to win.
The Firebirds last achieved it in 2019/20, a summer in which the last two scheduled rounds were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Firebirds had been sitting on a 26-point lead at the top of the table at that time and, with four wins from six of the eight scheduled games, were awarded the trophy.
The other two matches coming up this Sunday - ousted champions the Central Stags hosting the unpredictable Otago Volts at McLean Park, and the cellar-dwelling Auckland Aces against Canterbury, are dead rubbers.
So all eyes will be on Seddon Park where captains Jeet Raval and Tom Blundell will meet for the toss at 10am, assuming compliant weather in the last throes of the 2023/24 NZC Domestic season.
First ball is at 10.30am. All matches are free admission and livescored with video highlights at www.nzc.nz and on the NZC app, with free livestreams at NZC YouTube.
2023/24 SEASON
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Ben Sears takes a wicket with his very first delivery of the season as the Wellington Firebirds open their season with a see-sawing win, with a day to spare
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The Wellington Firebirds go two from two after the first two rounds of the national Plunket Shield championship - taking down the defending champs on their home turf
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The only two undefeated sides went toe-to-toe in a closely-fought fight in the capital, Firebirds star Nathan Smith and young Northern Districts gun Kristian Clarke both continuing to make a big early impact for their respective teams. But the result was one nobody wanted
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Standing in as Aces captain, Sean Solia produces the knock of his career - against joint leaders the Firebirds, as the Aucklanders reassert themselves in the Plunket Shield. But would there be time for a valuable result?
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When your opponent piles on one of their biggest first innings totals, the odds swing out of your favour. But the Wellington Firebirds weren't about to let the laws of cricket probability stop them against Canterbury in Rangiora
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The Central Stags plastered their fourth highest ever first-class total on Fitzherbert Park as they looked to move up the Plunket Shield ladder before it was too late. But a defiant Wellington Firebirds nightwatchman, and some ill-timed wet weather interventions, conspired against them
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Despite a century and bag of their own, the Otago Volts ran smack into Michael Bracewell, in his first red-ball match for the Firebirds all summer, and came out stinging from a bruising defeat inside three days
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Nine wickets in the match for Scott Kuggeleijn and a maiden Sandeep Patel century see ND to the first Plunket Shield outright of the summer
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Northern Districts keeps its grip on the top of the table after the first two rounds of the first-class championship, unbeaten one quarter of the way through the Plunket Shield competition as the Aces stumble again on their own turf
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The only two undefeated sides went toe-to-toe in a closely-fought fight in the capital, Firebirds star Nathan Smith and young Northern Districts gun Kristian Clarke both continuing to make a big early impact for their respective teams. But the result was one nobody wanted
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ND snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after key performances from Brett Hampton and Neil Wagner in Dunedin ensured they stayed top of the Plunket Shield ladder after four of the eight rounds
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ND had headed in with the Plunket Shield lead, defending champion the Central Stags with an uncapped player on the cusp of a magical debut - and a chance to gain valuable ground from third on the first-class ladder. After the Stags worked their way into a good position, weather would ultimately deny both teams at Bay Oval
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In one of the great Plunket Shield finishes, Northern Districts sweated all day against a determined Auckland Aces line-up, before snaffling a crucial victory - with just minutes to spare
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Northern Districts could have sewn up the Plunket Shield with a round to spare, but Canterbury had other plans for them in a slick win at their country estate
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