2017–18 Plunket Shield season
| Dates | 23 October 2017 – 5 April 2018 |
|---|---|
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin |
| Champions | Central Districts (10th title) |
| Participants | 6 |
| Matches | 30 |
| Most runs | Michael Papps (814) |
| Most wickets | Ajaz Patel (48) |
The 2017–18 Plunket Shield was the 89th season of the Plunket Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in New Zealand. The competition started on 23 October 2017 and finished on 5 April 2018.[1][2] Canterbury were the defending champions.[3]
The round eight fixture between Canterbury and Auckland at the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora was called off due to an unsafe pitch.[4] The umpires abandoned the game after only three balls were bowled on day three of the match.[5]
Central Districts won the tournament, following the final round of fixtures, after their nearest rivals, Wellington, failed to win their last match.[6]
Points table[edit]
| Team[7] | Pld | W | L | D | Ab | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Districts | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 131 |
| Wellington | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 127 |
| Auckland | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 105 |
| Northern Districts | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 80 |
| Otago | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 79 |
| Canterbury | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 64 |
Winner
Fixtures[edit]
Round 1[edit]
23–26 October 2017
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- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- Ollie Newton (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
- Michael Papps made the highest individual score for Wellington[8] and became the oldest New Zealand batsman to score a triple century in first-class cricket.[9]
- Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock made the highest opening partnership and the highest partnership for any wicket in first-class cricket in New Zealand with 432 runs.[8][10]
23–26 October 2017
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 1.
- Brad Schmulian (Central Districts) made his first-class debut.
- Brad Schmulian made the highest total on debut in first-class cricket in New Zealand.[11][12]
23–26 October 2017
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
- Blake Coburn and Fraser Sheat (Canterbury) both made their first-class debuts.
Round 2[edit]
30 October–2 November 2017
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
- Jesse Ryder (Central Districts) scored his 25th century in first-class cricket.[13]
30 October–2 November 2017
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
- Daniel Sams (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
- Blake Coburn (Canterbury) took his best figures and his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[14]
30 October–2 November 2017
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- Otago won the toss and elected to field.
- Luke Woodcock played in his 128th game for Wellington, the most first-class appearances for a player with one team in New Zealand.[15]
Round 3[edit]
7–10 November 2017
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- Logan van Beek (Wellington) took his maiden 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket.[16]
7–10 November 2017
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- Otago won the toss and elected to field.
- Danru Ferns, Ben Lister (Auckland) and Warren Barnes (Otago) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 4[edit]
15–18 November 2017
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- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- Hamish Bennett (Wellington) took his maiden ten-wicket match haul in first-class cricket.[17]
- Andrew Ellis scored his 5,000th run for Canterbury in first-class cricket.[17]
15–18 November 2017
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
- Ben Lister (Auckland) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[18]
Round 5[edit]
24–27 November 2017
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- Lauchie Johns (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
- Blair Tickner (Central Districts) took at hat-trick in the first innings.[19]
Round 6[edit]
1–4 March 2018
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- Jamie Brown (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
- Matt McEwan (Auckland) took a hat-trick.[20]
1–4 March 2018
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44/0 (7.2 overs)
Michael Papps 28* (23) |
- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- Andrew Hazeldine (Canterbury) and Alex Ridley (Wellington) both made their first-class debuts.
- Logan van Beek (Wellington) took a hat-trick.[20]
- Canterbury's second innings total of 53 was their fourth-lowest total in first-class cricket since 1900.[21]
2–5 March 2018
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Round 7[edit]
9–12 March 2018
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
- Trevor Garrett (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
9–12 March 2018
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Finn Allen (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
Round 8[edit]
17–20 March 2018
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
- Ken McClure (Canterbury) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.[23]
- Cam Fletcher (Canterbury) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[5]
- The match was called off in the first over of day three due to an unsafe pitch.[5]
17–20 March 2018
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- Otago won the toss and elected to bat.
- Peter Bocock (Northern Districts) made his first-class debut.
17–20 March 2018
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- Willem Ludick and Felix Murray (Central Districts) both made their first-class debuts.
- Malcolm Nofal (Wellington) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[24]
Round 9[edit]
25–28 March 2018
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Jeff Case (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
Round 10[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Talk of reducing Plunket Shield raises questions in NZ". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Plunket Shield set for major cut after this season as long-form cricket under microscope". Stuff. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Auckland's loss hands Canterbury third Shield". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Play abandoned due to unsafe wicket in Rangiora". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ a b c "Canterbury sound off at Auckland after abandoned Plunket Shield match". Stuff. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ "Central Districts crowned Plunket Shield champions". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Plunket Shield Table - 2017-18". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock smash records with mammoth opening stand for Wellington". Stuff. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Record-breaking Papps stars in crushing Wellington win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Cricket: Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock smash records with mammoth opening stand for Wellington". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Brad Schmulian's 203 on NZ first class debut breaks record held since late 19th century". Stuff. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Cricket: Central Districts batsman breaks 136-year record". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Ryder's twin centuries take Central Districts to first win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Young spinner Coburn delivers for Canterbury in thrilling Plunket Shield win". Stuff. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Meet the ultimate cricket tragic". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ^ "Van Beek's maiden 10-for keeps Wellington streak alive". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Hamish Bennett collects ten wickets in convincing Firebirds win". Stuff. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Ben Lister leads the way for Auckland as Black Caps batsmen fail to impress". Stuff. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ "Central Districts close in on top position with seven-wicket win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Logan van Beek and Matt McEwan take hat-tricks on same day in Plunket Shield". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Andy Ellis tells first-class batsmen to look at themselves, rather than blame green wicket". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Stags chase down target to stay right in Plunket Shield race after Wellington, Auckland win". Stuff. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Legspinner Ish Sodhi stars with seven wickets in Plunket Shield for ND". Stuff. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "Malcom Nofal scores century on debut for Wellington". Stuff. Retrieved 18 March 2018.