Brad Schmulian’s ninth first-class century and career-best 4/27 provided some statistical highlights for the Central Stags in their latest Plunket Shield match — but points were harder to come by.

After the winless Wellington Firebirds dug in for an old-fashioned draw in the fifth round at McLean Park, both teams had to walk away with just a handful of bonus points for meeting targets in the first innings.

With Northern Districts meanwhile having taken an outright victory off the Auckland Aces in Auckland, it means what had been just a nine-point spread between the top five teams has now become a 20-point gap, Northern going up to the head of the table and Central moving a fraction from fourth to fifth spot.

There is a maximum of 20 points available per match (12 of these for an outright win) and just three rounds to go so the sixth round bout with Northern provides the Stags with an opportunity to claw back some of the deficit.

Northern is the reigning champion in the Plunket Shield, and the Stags will have two bites at them this month — these teams will meet again in Hamilton in the last round, giving Tom Bruce’s men a good chance to rearrange the leaderboard.

Images | MBUTCHER

Tomorrow’s free admission encounter at McLean Park starts two days earlier than the other two matches in Auckland and Wellington, after which the Stags will be heading to Rangiora to play Canterbury who have meanwhile slipped from second spot to third after a weather-affected draw against Otago. 

Selectors have named an unchanged twelve, uncapped Taranaki paceman Ben Frewin remaining a chance of a debut after having carried the drinks against the Firebirds.

Regulars Blair Tickner and Ajaz Patel both remain sidelined by injury.

The toss tomorrow is set for 10am with livescoring and a free livestream here at cdcricket.co.nz on each of the four days.

2025/26 PLUNKET SHIELD

ROUND SIX

Central Stags v Northern Districts

McLean Park, Napier

10.30am | Saturday 7 to Tuesday 10 March 2026 

FREE ADMISSION + LIVESTREAM EVERY DAY

SQUAD

TOM Bruce - captain, Taranaki

JOSH Clarkson - Nelson

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

TOBY Findlay - Hawke’s Bay

DEAN Foxcroft - Hawke’s Bay

BEN Frewin - uncapped, Taranaki

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

JAYDEN Lennox - Hawke’s Bay

BRETT Randell - Nelson

BRAD Schmulian - Hawke's Bay

RAY Toole - Manawatū  

WILL Young - Taranaki

Head Coach: GREG Hay

Assistant Coach: ALDIN Smith 

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Tyler Annand, Joey Field, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner

Article added: Friday 6 March 2026