The back half of the Plunket Shield will determine the winner of the final NZC domestic trophy on offer this season, the Wellington Firebirds holding a slim, three-point lead over the Central Stags heading into the last five rounds of the historic 10-round competition.
Plunket Shield schedule
AUCKLAND ACES v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at EDEN PARK OUTER OVAL, AUCKLAND
AUCKLAND ACES
Current ranking: 3
12 named: Michael Guptill-Bunce (c), Michael Barry, Jamie Brown (potential first-class debut), Craig Cachopa, Ben Horne, Ben Lister, Matt McEwan, Stuart Meaker (overseas player, potential Aces debut), Robbie O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Jeet Raval, Sean Solia
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Current ranking: 4
12 named: Daniel Flynn (c), Bharat Popli, Dean Brownlie, Henry Cooper, Daryl Mitchell, BJ Watling, Tim Seifert (wk), Scott Kuggeleijn, Joe Walker, Jimmy Baker, Zak Gibson, Brent Arnel
NOTES Brett Randell (illness), Anton Devcich (Pakistan Super League) unavailable
CENTRAL STAGS v OTAGO VOLTS at McLEAN PARK, NAPIER
ROUND SIX
- Thursday 1 March to Sunday 4 March
- All four-day matches are free entry and begin at 10.30am
- Official hashtag: #plunketshield
AUCKLAND ACES v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at EDEN PARK OUTER OVAL, AUCKLAND
AUCKLAND ACES
Current ranking: 3
12 named: Michael Guptill-Bunce (c), Michael Barry, Jamie Brown (potential first-class debut), Craig Cachopa, Ben Horne, Ben Lister, Matt McEwan, Stuart Meaker (overseas player, potential Aces debut), Robbie O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Jeet Raval, Sean Solia
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Current ranking: 4
12 named: Daniel Flynn (c), Bharat Popli, Dean Brownlie, Henry Cooper, Daryl Mitchell, BJ Watling, Tim Seifert (wk), Scott Kuggeleijn, Joe Walker, Jimmy Baker, Zak Gibson, Brent Arnel
NOTES Brett Randell (illness), Anton Devcich (Pakistan Super League) unavailable
CENTRAL STAGS v OTAGO VOLTS at McLEAN PARK, NAPIER
CENTRAL STAGS
Current ranking: 2
13 named: Will Young (c), Greg Hay, Ben Smith, Jesse Ryder, Brad Schmulian, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wk), Doug Bracewell, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Seth Rance, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner
NOTES Dane Cleaver subject to fitness test following his back injury sustained while batting in The Ford Trophy Grand Final; George Worker (ankle injury), Ben Wheeler (rebuilding bowling loads) unavailable
OTAGO VOLTS
Current ranking: 5
12 named: Rob Nicol (c), Brad Wilson, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder (wk), Shawn Hicks, Anaru Kitchen, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Michael Rae, Jacob Duffy
CANTERBURY v WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS at HAGLEY OVAL, CHRISTCHURCH
Current ranking: 2
13 named: Will Young (c), Greg Hay, Ben Smith, Jesse Ryder, Brad Schmulian, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wk), Doug Bracewell, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Seth Rance, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner
NOTES Dane Cleaver subject to fitness test following his back injury sustained while batting in The Ford Trophy Grand Final; George Worker (ankle injury), Ben Wheeler (rebuilding bowling loads) unavailable
OTAGO VOLTS
Current ranking: 5
12 named: Rob Nicol (c), Brad Wilson, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Derek de Boorder (wk), Shawn Hicks, Anaru Kitchen, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Michael Rae, Jacob Duffy
CANTERBURY v WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS at HAGLEY OVAL, CHRISTCHURCH
CANTERBURY
Current ranking: 6
12 named: Andrew Ellis (c), Chad Bowes, Leo Carter, Blake Coburn, Cam Fletcher, Andrew Hazeldine (potential debut), Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Ken McClure, Cole McConchie, Michael Pollard, Will Williams
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS
Current ranking: 1
13 named: Michael Bracewell (c), Michael Papps, Luke Woodcock, Devon Conway, Stephen Murdoch, Tom Blundell, Fraser Colson, Logan van Beek, Alex Ridley, Jeetan Patel, Ollie Newton, Iain McPeake, Peter Younghusband
