A thrilling final round of the State Shield has seen the State Northern Knights qualify first and progress directly to the final in Hamilton on Saturday with the State Canterbury Wizards and the State Otago Volts competing in the knock-out semi-final on Wednesday in Christchurch.
Northern top qualifiers
The State Northern Knights were run away top qualifiers winning seven of their ten matches and were guaranteed a home final going into the final round which they lost to the Canterbury Wizards.
It was a must win game for the Canterbury Wizards who won a congested race to earn themselves a semi-final berth at the expense of the State Central Stags who won their match but finished in fourth place.
The Wizards put on 274 against the Knights with Shanan Stewart making 120 – his maiden one-day century and they managed to hang on to defend the total as Northern fell five runs short.
Northern batsmen Kane Williamson (100) and Peter McGlashan (112) put on a State Shield record 192 runs for the sixth wicket and very nearly reeled in the total.
Shane Bond was the difference on the day removing the top order and bowling a match winning final over to finish with four for 56.
The win put the Wizards into outright second and earned them a home semi against Otago.
Defending champions settle for third
In a dramatic match the State Otago Volts fell to a last ball defeat against the State Wellington Firebirds and with that the right to host the knock-out semi-final.
Batting first the Volts made 244 with the bulk of the runs coming from new BLACKCAP Neil Broom (77) and their season’s most reliable batsman Craig Cumming (54).
Overall State MVP leader Graham Napier took three for 55 and completed a run out to restrict the defending champions.
Wellington all-rounder James Franklin hit the winning runs off the last ball to finish on 87 not out and lift the Firebirds off the bottom of the table.
Knock-out semi final
The semi final between the State Canterbury Wizards and the State Otago Volts will be played on Wednesday 28 January at QEII Park in Christchurch.
Top MVP performers
State Northern Knights
|
State Shield Ranking
|
MVP Points | MVP Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult |
5
|
103.53 | 11.50 |
| BJ Watling |
7
|
98.31 | 9.83 |
| Brent Arnel |
11
|
88.69 | 11.09 |
| Joseph Yovich |
12
|
85.93 | 10.74 |
State Canterbury Wizards
|
State Shield Ranking
|
MVP Points | MVP Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Bond |
3
|
111.95 | 12.44 |
| Ryan Burson |
10
|
91.09 | 11.39 |
| Andrew Ellis |
22
|
74.97 | 9.37 |
| Michael Papps |
25
|
73.27 | 8.14 |
State Otago Volts
|
State Shield Ranking
|
MVP Points | MVP Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Wagner |
2
|
114.96 | 12.77 |
| Craig Cumming |
9
|
95.82 | 10.65 |
| Ian Butler |
14
|
85.54 | 10.69 |
| Dimitri Mascarenhas |
16
|
82.06 | 10.26 |
