Test BLACKCAPS back for big Plunket Shield round

Posted Friday, 15 March, 2024 in Domestic News

2023/24

ROUND SEVEN

THE PLUNKET SHIELD national championship is boiling down to the two decisive rounds, with several teams still fighting for the coveted first-class trophy.

All eyes will on points table leader Northern Districts over the next four days as they head to Rangiora's Mainpower Oval looking for a result that could sew up the championship ahead of the final round.

PHOTOSPORT

Northern Districts hasn't lifted the history-laden trophy in more than a decade, so there's certainly no lack of motivation for ND as they get ready to take on Canterbury.

Northern has BLACKCAPS paceman Scott Kuggeleijn back for the big match fresh off the home Tests against Australia, as well as Tim Seifert behind the stumps.

PHOTOSPORT

Canterbury's hopes of emulating last season's top-two finish are rapidly dimming as they find themselves too far behind the leaders at this stage of the season - after a first-class summer in which they haven't enjoyed a lot of luck.

The Auckland Aces are another team that's had a special white-ball summer (Canterbury and the Aces appeared in both this summer's white-ball men's Finals, each taking home a trophy) but they won't be adding the Plunket Shield to their cabinet, having become the first team to drop out of contention in the latest round.

PHOTOSPORT

After fighting admirably throughout the last day of that Hamilton match, they lost in the very last over of the game - to a thrilled and relieved Northern Districts team who knew the competition was now back in their control.

The Aces are away this weekend to the defending champion Central Stags in Napier. The Stags are still a sniff if they can keep up their strong form and if other results now go their way.

They're coming off back-to-back draws against ND and the Wellington Firebirds (against whom they poured on one of their biggest ever totals) where a little more fortune with weather could well have seen the Stags occupying the top rung on the ladder.

PHOTOSPORT

The Stags have Test batter Will Young back in the Plunket Shield squad for the first time all season, and also welcome back class allrounder Doug Bracewell from injury, against an Aces squad that loses well performed rookie Harjot Johal to injury, opening the door to Jordan Sussex whose only previous Plunket Shield and first-class appearance was also at McLean Park against the Stags, two years ago.

It's also a massive four days for the Wellington Firebirds who are at home at the Cello Basin Reserve, looking to stop the Otago Volts' rather sensational run of late season form.

PHOTOSPORT

The Volts are fresh off beating Canterbury inside three days with a beaut performance at Alexandra's Molyneux Park, and will be intent on moving further up the ladder in their last two games.

The Firebirds get their BLACKCAPS Tom Blundell and Michael Bracewell back for the big match, with Nathan Smith (who was rested on 12th man duties in the previous round) likely to feature, fresh off his season award for men's Domestic Player of the Year.

The Otago Volts enjoy the return from injury of batter Thorn Parkes and paceman Andrew Hazeldine (above) in what should be a cracking contest in the capital.