Stags handed the Plunket Shield
The ICC is introducing the championship in a bid to breathe life back into test cricket, not that the form of the game is dead, judging by the scenes at Hagley Oval on Tuesday.
While the Barmy Army dug into their arsenal of chants in a bid to will England on in their pursuit of 10 wickets, New Zealand fans were on a knife-edge as tailenders Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner rebuffed the Brits for 31.2 overs and the home side held on in the fading Christchurch light.
It was gripping stuff, and backed up what many cricket fans believe – nothing beats the five-day form of the game.
‘‘A great advertisement for test cricket,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘I suppose it’s one of the few sports with the format that we have in test cricket where there can be so much on the line, everyone can be on the edge of their seats and you come away with a draw and it’s the best possible result for our team on this day.’’
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson, who labelled the series win ‘‘huge’’, echoed Williamson when
looking ahead at a busier test schedule from the middle of 2019.
‘‘There were factors at play this year. Obviously England had the
Ashes and can only play seven tests in a year, that’s beyond our control.
‘‘New Zealand Cricket certainly
wants to play a lot more test cricket.’’
Hesson also revealed man-ofthe-match Tim Southee, struck
down by a virus late on day three of the Christchurch test, was so drained he had to sleep in the changing sheds. 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 to secure victory.
But the batsmen now 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 the match.
It was Seth Rance who took six wickets on the opening day in what proved a Shield securing bowling performance, meaning the subsequent collapse to 99 all out in their first innings didn’t matter.
The Stags have been excellent all season.
Greg Hay scored 786 runs opening the innings for Central, while Jesse Ryder and Will Young both have more than 600 on the season.
Kane Williamson
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 match, Central hadn’t lost a game. They had six wins and three draws, showing an ability to take games the distance when needed.
That may change today with Central on 111-3, needing a further
408 runs to win. They need to bat out the whole day to secure 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 lineup.
Wellington were right in the hunt until their final innings, thanks in large part to another brilliant bowling display from Jeetan Patel.