A remarkable first-class match unfolded in Mt Maunganui over four hard-fought days between Northern Districts and the Central Stags.

The match was a significant one for both teams, with the Stags needing also to overcome the rust of four weeks out of action following the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on Hawke's Bay.

The Stags began the season as one of the early Plunket Shield leaders, and now lag on the table, but with their cyclone-postponed fifth-round match against the Auckland Aces giving them a game in hand.

Meanwhile, a draw between Canterbury and the Otago Volts in Dunedin has kept rivals Canterbury from streaking ahead on the ladder. Canterbury has just two matches left and holds a 20-point lead ahead of next week's big contest, a rematch between the Stags and red and blacks in Rangiora that starts on Monday.

Highlights for the Stags from their Mount Maunganui rumble with ND included BRAD SCHMULIAN's fifth first-class century - his third against ND, and at the same ground where he scored his NZ record debut knock of 203, as well as day four centuries to GREG HAY and TOM BRUCE in a record fifth-wicket stand against ND as the Stags posted their third highest fourth innings total in an epic fight for points.

Armbands were worn by both teams in tribute to Cycline Gabrielle victims as the Stags belatedly began the back end of the tight first-class season.

Northern Districts captain Jeet Raval asked the Stags to field first after winning the toss, with Stags captain Hay making his first appearance of the season in the sixth-round match, following surgery to repair a broken forearm sustained just before the 2022/23 Plunket Shield had begun in October 2022.

In a match studded with gritty hundreds, Hay would hit the ground running as one of six batsmen to raise his bat in this match - but not before a lengthy stint in the field as ND set about scoring big runs.

Raval was the first to score a century in the match, followed by ND first drop Bharat Popli on opening day, before Mitch Santner became the third batsman to reach a ton in the same innings, on Day Two.

It was just the third time in history that three Northern Districts batsmen had scored centuries in an innings and the ND 500 would be up on the board before lunch on Day Two, before a late flurry from the Stags ended the innings.

JOSH CLARKSON had brought Santner's career-best effort to an end on 136 before spinners Schmulian (3/45) and AJAZ PATEL (2/134 after 27.2 overs of toil) combined to take the last three ND wickets in the space of six balls.

Central now faced a significant task to match Northern's hefty first innings effort, in their first time back at the batting crease in a month.

It started badly, with four of the top five lost inside the first 23 overs, but Schmulian found a partner in TOM BRUCE, who likewise had already scored a double century against ND in his career.

Bruce would reach 67 in a partnership of 125 for the fifth, and Schmulian carried on to 108. The 64th over was a turning point, however, with Santner collecting the big wickets of Bruce and then a scoreless DOUG BRACEWELL off the first two deliveries, the day ending with the Stags 190/6, with resilient Schmulian on 79*.

Santner (5/51) went on to a maiden first-class bag on Day Three, Central taking just one batting bonus, while Northern had collected the full set of eight from bowling and batting.

Trailing by 268, the Stags were in a difficult position. But on a flat deck, Ravalbatted again, looking for runs and a big psychological statement.

With more adventure in their game, Northern also lost wickets more readily, but first drop Popli clocked up another half century to go with his first innings ton, top-scoring with a 64-ball 70.

An ND declaration ensued at 194/7: Central needed 463 in four sessions, and Northern's spin-heavy attack 10 wickets at a ground beloved of slow bowlers.

 

By stumps the Stags were 71/2, but Hay - at first drop in this match, moving from his customary opening slot, was still incumbent on 27*, with Schmulian 13*.

The Stags need another 392 with eight wickets in hand on the final day at Bay Oval, and would have to reach their highest ever fourth innings total if they were to win the match.

They got remarkably close as Hay and Bruce combined for what would be biggest stand of the match.

By lunch, Hay had reached 74* off 171 balls, and Bruce 63* off 109 with their fifth-wicket partnership standing at exactly 100*. A further 289 runs were required, still a significant task.

The middle session saw each man raise the bat for a century, and they were still together at tea as Northern began to grow weary at the sight of them.

By then, their partnership had reached 206*: now 183 runs were required from the last session for what had seemed such an impossible win.

They put the Stags 300 on the board after the break, and kept going, batting into the afternoon sun. Both men would go on to reach a personal 150.

Now the possibility of the win was finally coming into focus, and the impetus was there to elevate the run rate. But soon after Hay had got to his 150, finally the 270-run fifth-wicket stand was broken.

Hay had advanced down the wicket to try to put the ball over Pringle's head, only to be caught by the tall spinner. The youngster barely celebrated, but whether it was from respect or battle fatigue is unknown. Central had put on a new fifth-wicket record against ND, from 74/4 to 344/5.

The visitors were not done, and Bracewell's return to crease increased the odds of a shock win as he upped the run rate with a quick, 32-ball half ton. His four sixes looked almost effortless, and Northern was remarkably being pushed back on to the back foot, with Central needing just run-a-ball.

Santner had the answer though, and had Bracewell caught soon after at 414/6.

With four wickets in hand, Central needed a further 49, and time remained - just - to get them. But late order wickets tumbled in each of the next three overs, and the Stags could then no longer risk adventure.

Bruce remained looking to save the match, with last man RAY TOOLE who had already shown he was capable of sticking around for a cause. All the remained was to deny Northern 12 points.

Santner had been everywhere in this match. He'd scored a century, taken a bag in the first innings, and had just taken two catches as well as finishing off the runout of Patel in the flurry of late wickets. Earlier in the innings, he had bowled opener BEN SMITH and he was responsible for the critical wicket of Bracewell during the final assault.

Now one big last wicket was eluding Northern in what had seemed like a match in the pocket, as Bruce and Toole blocked his next over, and then did the same to Pringle.

 

 

The overs were ticking down in the single figures, the shadows long, as Santner began the 131st over of the innings. Bruce prodded him away first ball, but then - Bruce finally missed one, the ball thudding into his pad. Northern went up in delight, scarcely able to believe that the incredible match was finally theirs.

Bruce was gone on 161, the Stags all out for 427: their third highest ever fourth innings total since the team's inception in 1950.

Northern had finished with a 35-run victory, the maximum 20 points, and Santner with eight wickets for a match that will go down as one of the classic Plunket Shield battles.

2022/23 PLUNKET SHIELD

ROUND SIX

NORTHERN DISTRICTS defeated CENTRAL STAGS by 35 runs

Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui

5-8 March, 2022

VIDEO SCORECARD

Total points this round: Northern Districts 20, Central Stags 3

Milestones

Jeet Raval: 20th first-class century (4th for ND)

Bharat Popli: 6th first-class century

Mitch Santner: 4th first-class century (3rd for ND) and career best first-class score

Mitch Santner: Maiden first-class 5-wicket bag

Mitch Santner: Third player to score a century and take a 5-wicket bag in a first-class match for Northern Districts

Brad Schmulian: 5th first-class century

Greg Hay: 16th first-class century

Tom Bruce: 8th first-class century

Greg Hay, Tom Bruce: Record 5th wicket partnership (27) in matches for Central Stags v Northern Districts