Out goes one quality international left-arm spinner, in comes another.

The return of the maestro Ajaz Patel headlines the Central Stags squad news for an all-important Plunket Shield clash with Canterbury beginning tomorrow in Rangiora.

Selections for the BLACKCAPS mean fellow left-armer Jayden Lennox and allrounder Josh Clarkson are unavailable, but the Stags have managed to retain Dane Cleaver, for now — like Lennox, the keeper-batter was selected only for the back end of the current T20 Internationals against South Africa.

The luxury of swapping one quality left-arm spinner for another | MBUTCHER

Cleaver is fresh off his 10th first-class century in an innings victory over Northern Districts that will be remembered chiefly for Brett Randell's phenomenal world record five wickets in five balls in a sparkling 7/25, rather than for Cleaver’s handy ton, or Ray Toole’s second innings haul of 5/32.

C’est la vie. 

Patel returns from a calf niggle that has kept him sidelined for the past few weeks, alongside allrounder Will Clark and, back from injury, strong young paceman Tyler Annand who return for Clarkson and uncapped Taranaki paceman Ben Frewin (who carried the drinks in the last two matches) respectively.

The Stags sit third on a remarkably tight table, heading into a pivotal clash where a Stags win could see a whopping five teams still in contention ahead of the last round.

It’s the tightest Plunket Shield race in years, the lead having changed every week since February and only 12 points — exactly the same number awarded for an outright win — separating the top five teams across the country.

Canterbury’s lead over former leader ND is a mere three points after the big wins to Canterbury, Otago and the Stags last week and teams can earn up to 20 points per match if they also take the full set of eight first innings bonuses, gained for reaching set batting or bowling targets before the 110-over mark of each first innings.

So, outright wins to Northern, the Stags and the Auckland Aces this week could see all five of the top teams still in contention for the title heading into the last round, with only winless Wellington out of it.

A week-long break between the Stags’ sixth and seventh round matches has been ideal for the team to settle again after the incredible scenes last Sunday, say the players, when the Stags suddenly had Northern in a headlock at 9/5 before lunch on day two.

“It was such a high that when you come back down, it feels like you’ve come right down,” Dane Cleaver explains.

“It was special, and the reason we play the game is for those big moments — the championships that have been won, amazing performances by your mates.“

The world first five-in-five (or triple hat-trick, if you're so inclined) occurred on Day Two, the match ultimately completed with a day and a half to spare.

“Personally when it was unfolding, it was one of those one where you're on this absolute high — and then a couple of hours later, it felt like we had played five days of cricket,“ said Brad Schmulian.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster, but in a good way.“

The Stags took the full 20 points from the game and while the points table is tight, so too is the contest to finish as this season’s top run-scorer.

Schmulian (654 runs from six games) is closing on 4,000 first-class career runs, and for this season, sits just three runs behind Canterbury captain Henry Nicholls (659 runs from five games) — setting up a head-to-head contest between them over the next four days.

Both have been run machines this summer, having also finished in the top three one-day Ford Trophy run-scorers nationally.

Auckland left-arm spinner Rohit Gulati — who started with a hiss and a roar, meanwhile finds his status as the top Plunket Shield wicket-taker under threat from reliable left-arm paceman Ray Toole.

Gulati has 27 wickets, Toole 22, and Canterbury quick Sean Davey 21. 

While the Stags go up against Canterbury in Rangiora, Otago will be playing Northern Districts in Dunedin and the under-pressure Aucklanders facing off against the Firebirds at the Basin.

Crucially the Canterbury country weather forecast looks to be a fine one for the week, with the Stags then heading north to Hamilton for what could become a huge final rematch with ND in the last match of CD’s 75th jubilee season.

Play commences at 10.30am tomorrow with live-scoring and a free livestream here at cdcricket.co.nz.

2025/26 PLUNKET SHIELD

ROUND SEVEN OF EIGHT

Canterbury v Central Stags

MainPower Oval, Rangiora

10.30am | Wed 18 to Sat 21 March 2026

FREE ADMISSION + LIVESTREAM EVERY DAY

• scroll for Canterbury's squad •

SQUAD

TOM Bruce - captain, Taranaki

TYLER Annand - Hawke’s Bay

WILL Clark - Hawke’s Bay

DANE Cleaver - wicketkeeper, Manawatū

TOBY Findlay - Hawke’s Bay

DEAN Foxcroft - Hawke’s Bay

CURTIS Heaphy - Manawatū

AJAZ Patel - 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:

Joey Field, Blair Tickner (injury)

Josh Clarkson, Jayden Lennox (BLACKCAPS squad)

SQUAD

Henry Nicholls - captain

Matt Boyle

Leo Carter

Callum Cameron

Sean Davey

Jesse Frew

Mitch Hay - wicketkeeper

Scott Jannett

Rhys Mariu

Travis Muller

Michael Rae

Fraser Sheat

Article added: Tuesday 17 March 2026