Despite having become the third team to drop out of contention for the $75,000 Plunket Shield championship, Northern Districts are poised to have a major influence over who claims the coveted prize in a fortnight's time.
Brent Arnel is one of several guns returning to the ND attack today. MButcher/NZC
The penultimate round of the national first-class competition begins at 10.30am today in Wellington, Napier and Dunedin, with Northern set to play both the top contenders— the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve, followed by the Central Stags in Napier in the final round — over the final fortnight.
Firebirds v ND updates
Plunket Shield schedule
The Firebirds enter Round Nine needing to hold off the Stags on points in this round in order to control their own destiny, the unbeaten Stags just 12 points (the equivalent of one outright win) behind them on the table.
Northern Districts' ability to challenge the front-runners can not be discounted, having welcomed back a cluster of stars in off-spinning allrounder Anton Devcich (below) from a professional stint abroad; pace duo Scott Kuggeleijn and Brent Arnel who were rested in Round Eight and accomplished wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is meanwhile coming off his fourth first-class seven-wicket bag.
Plunket Shield schedule
The Firebirds enter Round Nine needing to hold off the Stags on points in this round in order to control their own destiny, the unbeaten Stags just 12 points (the equivalent of one outright win) behind them on the table.
"It's a nice position to be in," Wellington Firebirds captain Michael Bracewell says, "but there's still a lot of cricket to be played over the next few games.
Iain McPeake is enjoying a strong season for the Firebirds. PHOTOSPORT
"We've played some positive cricket throughout the competition, and we'll just keep going. We're just trying to keep looking to win games of cricket, and who knows? It's a close race."
Northern Districts' ability to challenge the front-runners can not be discounted, having welcomed back a cluster of stars in off-spinning allrounder Anton Devcich (below) from a professional stint abroad; pace duo Scott Kuggeleijn and Brent Arnel who were rested in Round Eight and accomplished wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi is meanwhile coming off his fourth first-class seven-wicket bag.
Will Anton Devcich be a curve ball? PHOTOSPORT
The Stags are back to full strength in Napier, having made five changes to the squad that denied the Firebirds a victory in last week's drawn top-of-the-table clash. Seth Rance (below), Greg Hay, Doug Bracewell and the season's top wicket-taker Ajaz Patel all return from NZXI duties, while George Worker, who was also initially named in the NZXI matches against England, returns from injury.
Seth Rance is one of a number of returning Stags. PHOTOSPORT
A maximum of 20 points is available per round, including first innings bonus points. The Auckland Aces also remain in contention, but are in danger of being left behind in this round.
The Aces teeter on the edge in this round. PHOTOSPORT
The historic Plunket Shield is the final NZC domestic trophy on offer this season. A new champion is guaranteed after defending title-holders Canterbury dropped out of contention in Round Seven. The Wellington Firebirds have not lifted the Plunket Shield since the 2003/04 season, while the Central Stags last won the title in 2012/13. There is no prize for second in the Plunket Shield, one of New Zealand's oldest national competitions.
Ollie Newton has proven an effective opening bowler for the Firebirds. PHOTOSPORT
ROUND NINE
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON
WELLINGTON FIREBIRDS • Current ranking: 1 • still in contention
Michael Bracewell (c), Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Alex Ridley, Luke Woodcock
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
• Current ranking: 4 • out of the race
Daniel Flynn (c), Henry Cooper, Corey Anderson, Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert, Anton Devcich, Daryl Mitchell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Jimmy Baker, Zak Gibson, Brent Arnel
CENTRAL STAGS v CANTERBURY AT McLEAN PARK, NAPIER
CENTRAL STAGS • Current ranking: 2 • still in contention
Will Young (c), Ben Smith, Greg Hay, George Worker, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (w), Doug Bracewell, Willem Ludick, Adam Milne, Bevan Small, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Blair Tickner
CANTERBURY • Current ranking: 6 • out of the race
Cole McConchie (c), Chad Bowes, Michael Davidson, Ken McClure, Jeff Case (potential first-class debut, 27-year-old right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pace), Cam Fletcher (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Will Williams, Theo van Woerkom, Andrew Hazeldine, Blake Coburn, Fraser Sheat
OTAGO VOLTS v AUCKLAND ACES at UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO OVAL, DUNEDIN
OTAGO VOLTS • Current ranking: 5 • out of the race
Rob Nicol (c), Matt Bacon (potential first-class debut), Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rae, Michael Rippon, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Brad Wilson
AUCKLAND ACES • Current ranking: 3 • still in contention
Michael Guptill-Bunce (c), Jamie Brown, Craig Cachopa, Mark Chapman, Ben Horne, Lockie Ferguson, Danru Ferns, Ben Lister, Stuart Meaker (overseas player), Matt McEwan, Robbie O'Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Sean Solia
