The Central Stags are catching up on early Plunket Shield leaders the Firebirds, remaining in second spot after the opening three rounds but closing the gap to just 15 points.

With five rounds remaining, 20 points available per round and the Stags and Firebirds set to play each other twice in the back end of the championship that will resume in late February, it's game on in the quest for the first Plunket Shield threepeat in 80 years!

Despite a raft of preseason injuries - leading to an injury bench full of seasoned performers and four new faces in the squad over the past three weeks, the Stags have survived with a tight first-up loss against the Auckland Aces, a dramatic outright win against ND in a tough match at the Mount and now a draw with maximum bowling points salvaged from a weather-hit match at Saxton Oval against Canterbury.

Attention now turns to The Ford Trophy with the start of the white-ball summer happening from 11am this Sunday at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park. The Stags will be meeting Canterbury again in the first round, a side they beat at the same venue two years ago.

Canterbury will be looking forward to resting their legs after the Stags forced them to run around the field for the final two days of the third-round Plunket Shield match, in between numerous weather and light interruptions that cost valuable time in the contest.

Having won the toss and bowled on a green deck, Canterbury held the advantage on the first day, but the Stags fought back with the ball, then comfortably reeled in Canterbury's modest lead thanks largely to a determined 145-run partnership for the third wicket between Ben Smith and Brad Schmulian (above; PHOTOSPORT).

After the pair fell in consecutive overs this afternoon, the remainder of the Stags' order ensured the side did not have to bowl again as time dwindled away in the last four-dayer of 2019, 287 for nine with an overall lead of 239 when the captains shook hands for the draw late on the final afternoon.

Full report here

The Stags' top runscorer from the opening three rounds has been Schmulian with an aggregate of 256 at 51.20 (three half centuries), while Willem Ludick (below) - who produced a career-best 4-51 with the ball at Saxton - is in the top three bowlers nationally with 13 wickets at just 14.53, and Seth Rance not far behind in fifth spot with 11 at 25.09.

The Stags' round one Ford Trophy squad for Sunday will be named following the conclusion of the two CD A matches that will be played against ND A in Taupo on Tuesday (12 November) and Wednesday this week.

2019/20 stats after thee rounds

MOST RUNS

Devon Conway — Wellington Firebirds, 3 matches, 6 innings, 562 runs at 140.40, HS 327* (career best), 1 x 100, 2 x 50

Tom Latham — Canterbury, 3 matches, 4 innings, 267 runs at 66.75, HS 224, 1 x 100, 1 x 50

BRAD SCHMULIAN — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 256 runs at 56.20, 3 x 50

Henry Cooper — Northern Districts, 2 matches, 4 innings, 220 runs at 55.00, 1 x 100

BEN SMITH — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 187 runs at 31.16, 2 x 50

GEORGE WORKER — Central Stags, 3 matches, 6 innings, 180 runs at 30.00, 1 x 100

Daryl Mitchell — Northern Districts, 1 match, 1 innings, 170 runs at 170.00, 1 x 100

TOM BRUCE — Central Stags, 3 matches, 4 innings, 167 runs at 55.66, 2 x 50

MOST WICKETS

Neil Wagner (pace) — Northern Districts; 3 matches, 17 wickets at 24.11, 2 x 5-wicket bags, best 6-114

Malcolm Nofal (spinner) — Wellington Firebirds; 3 matches, 15 wickets at 16.13, best 4-15

WILLEM LUDICK (pace) — Central Stags; 3 matches, 13 wickets at 14.53, best 4-51 (career best)

Matt McEwan (pace) — Auckland Aces; 3 matches, 12 wickets at 12.08, best 4-39

SETH RANCE (pace) — Central Stags; 3 matches, 11 wickets at 25.09, best 3-49

Jacob Duffy (pace) — Otago Volts; 3 matches, 10 wickets at 16.30, best 7-89 (career best), 1 x 5-wicket bag

Michael Rippon (spin) — Otago Volts; 1 match, 9 wickets at 10.33, best 5-33 (career best)

Article added: Monday 11 November 2019