Looking to become the first team in 80 years to win a threepeat of titles, the injury-depleted Stags rose from second-to-last to second on the table after the opening three rounds with a loss, win and draw — to sit just just 15 points behind the Firebirds, whose two early wins were tempered by a rain-affected draw in the latest and last pre-Christmas round at the Basin Reserve.
The two sides are scheduled to meet each other twice in the back end of the competition - when a swathe of top performers are likely to be back from injury for the defending champions to set up an attractive duel between the top of the table sides.
- Wellington Firebirds - 43
- Central Stags - 28
- Auckland Aces - 26
- Canterbury - 16
- Otago Volts - 15
- Northern Districts - 14
With a maximum 20 points possible per round, the Auckland Aces — coached by former Stags Head Coach Heinrich Malan — are meanwhile breathing down the Stags’ neck, with only 29 points separating the six teams on the table after the weather-hit third round resulted in a trio of drawn matches.
Apart from those players selected for NZA in this week’s Test series warmup against England in Whangarei — a match which will carry first-class status, New Zealand Domestic cricketers now swap the red ball for one-day kit with the women’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and men’s Ford Trophy national competitions, both of which begin this weekend.
The same team v team match-ups from the latest Plunket Shield round will kick off the Ford Trophy that starts at 11am this Sunday in Auckland (defending champions the Firebirds v the Auckland Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval); in Palmerston North (Central Stags versus Canterbury at Fitzherbert Park); and at 2pm at Hamilton’s Seddon Park (Northern Districts v last summer’s beaten finalists the Otago Volts) in a day/night clash under the venue's improved floodlights - day/night matches at Seddon an innovation introduced to the competition this season.
Defending women’s national one-day champions the Central Hinds will host the Otago Sparks in the opening weekend of their defence at Levin’s Donnelly Park, Round One on Saturday and Round Two on Sunday for all teams.
Last year’s beaten finalists the Auckland Hearts meanwhile face a first-up away trip to meet Wellington Blaze back-to-back at the Basin Reserve, with the Canterbury Magicians are hosting Northern Spirit at Hagley Oval.
PLUNKET SHIELD
Leading Domestic performers after three rounds | 2019/20
MOST RUNS
- Devon Conway — Wellington Firebirds, 3 matches, 6 innings, 562 runs at 140.40, HS 327* (career best), 1 x 100, 2 x 50
- Tom Latham — Canterbury, 3 matches, 4 innings, 267 runs at 66.75, HS 224, 1 x 100, 1 x 50
- Brad Schmulian — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 256 runs at 56.20, HS 74*, 3 x 50
- Henry Cooper — Northern Districts, 2 matches, 4 innings, 220 runs at 55.00, HS 149* (career best), 1 x 100
- Ben Smith — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 187 runs at 31.16, HS 82, 2 x 50
- George Worker — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 180 runs at 30.00, HS 130, 1 x 100
- Daryl Mitchell — Northern Districts, 1 match, 1 innings, 170 runs at 170.00, HS 170* (career best), 1 x 100
- Tom Bruce — Central Stags, 3 matches, 4 innings, 167 runs at 55.66, HS 71*, 2 x 50
MOST WICKETS
- Neil Wagner (pace) — Northern Districts; 3 matches, 17 wickets at 24.11, 2 x 5-wicket bags, best 6-114
- Malcolm Nofal (spinner) — Wellington Firebirds; 3 matches, 15 wickets at 16.13, best 4-15 (career best)
- Willem Ludick (pace) — Central Stags; 3 matches, 13 wickets at 14.53, best 4-51 (career best)
- Matt McEwan (pace) — Auckland Aces; 3 matches, 12 wickets at 12.08, best 4-39
- Seth Rance (pace) — Central Stags; 3 matches, 11 wickets at 25.09, best 3-49
- Jacob Duffy (pace) — Otago Volts; 3 matches, 10 wickets at 16.30, best 7-89 (career best), 1 x 5-wicket bag
- Michael Rippon (spin) — Otago Volts; 1 match, 9 wickets at 10.33, best 5-33 (career best)
