Plunket Shield handed to Central Stags
The Central Stags are Plunket Shield champions for the 10th time.
For the first time since 2013, the Stags will lift the Plunket Shield after their closest rivals, the Wellington Firebirds, slumped to a 120-run loss to the Auckland Aces in Auckland.
Wellington had hoped to claim their first title since 2004, with the Stags needing a massive 519 in their second innings to secure victory.
However, having been set 294 for victory, the Firebirds folded to 173 all out on the third day at Eden Park Outer Oval, sparking celebrations at Nelson Park in Napier for the triumphant Stags.
The largely homegrown Stags, backing up losses in the finals of both limited-overs competitions, only claimed the Plunket Shield lead in the last round as the Firebirds slipped up against Northern Districts.
Central are staring down a massive chase in their final match against Northern Districts, needing a huge total.
But the batsmen know the pressure is off. Their bowling points for rolling Northern out for just 134 on the opening day are enough to secure the Plunket Shield, even if they lose.
Seth Rance took six wickets on the opening day in what proved a Shield-securing performance, meaning the subsequent collapse to 99 all out in their first innings didn’t matter.
Greg Hay scored 786 runs opening the innings for Central, while Jesse Ryder and Will Young both have more than 600 on the season.
They’ve been superb with the ball, too, with Ajaz Patel the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 48, including 6-143 in his latest effort in Napier.
Heading into the final game, Central hadn’t lost a game, with six wins and three draws.
That may change on Thursday with Central on 111-3, needing a further 408 runs to win. They need to bat out the whole day for a draw.
An unbeaten 104 from Daryl Mitchell put Northern in strong position as his side amassed 483 all out in their second innings, with Anton Devcich also adding 106 to the total.
George Worker scored 42 opening the innings for the Stags but fell to Brent Arnel, with the wiley campaigner finishing the day with 3-14 from nine overs, ripping the top off the Stags line up.
Wellington were right in the hunt until their final innings, thanks in large part to another brilliant bowling display from Jeetan Patel.
The veteran off spinner took 5-37 in the second innings as Auckland fell to 163 all out, setting Wellington 294 to win in more than a day and a half.
But debutant Louis Delport did the damage for Auckland. The leftarm orthodox bowler took 4-42 in 22 overs to rip through the Firebirds.