The 2020–21 Plunket Shield was the 92nd season of the Plunket Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in New Zealand. It started on 19 October 2020 and finished on 6 April 2021.[1] Wellington were the defending champions.[2][3]
| Dates | 19 October 2020 – 6 April 2021 |
|---|---|
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Round-robin |
| Champions | Canterbury (20th title) |
| Participants | 6 |
| Matches | 24 |
| Most runs | Joe Carter (590) |
| Most wickets | Will Williams (31) |
On 15 June 2020, New Zealand Cricket announced the first round of contracts for domestic teams ahead of the 2020–21 season.[4][5] The full schedule for the tournament was confirmed on 8 October 2020.[6][7]
The season started on 19 October 2020, with the opening two matches affected by the weather, with them both ending early during the tea break on the first day.[8] In the match between Auckland and Otago, Auckland's Ben Lister became the first COVID-19 replacement in a cricket match.[9] Lister replaced Mark Chapman, who reported feeling unwell, inline with the updated International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions for a substitute due to COVID.[10]
Canterbury won the tournament with two rounds of matches to play, winning their first title since the 2016–17 season.[11]
Points table edit
| Team[12] | Pld | W | L | D | Ab | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 109 |
| Northern Districts | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 69 |
| Otago | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 63 |
| Auckland | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 61 |
| Central Districts | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 56 |
| Wellington | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 37 |
Champions
Fixtures edit
Round 1 edit
19–22 October 2020
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 41.3 overs were bowled on the first three days due to rain.
- After rain washed out most of the match, both teams agreed to forfeit an innings in an attempt to produce a result.[13]
- Points: Central Districts 15, Northern District 2
19–22 October 2020
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
- Only 19.1 overs were bowled on day 1 due to rain.
- Points: Canterbury 16, Wellington 4
20–23 October 2020
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
- Ollie Pringle (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
- In the first innings of the match, Ben Lister replaced Mark Chapman as a COVID-19 substitute in Auckland's squad.[14]
- Points: Auckland 18, Otago 3
Round 2 edit
28–31 October 2020
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Northern Districts 19, Otago 4.
28–31 October 2020
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
- Joey Field (Central Districts) made his first-class debut.
- George Worker (Central Districts) played in his 100th first-class match.[15]
- Kyle Jamieson (Auckland) took a hat-trick.[16]
- Points: Auckland 16, Central Districts 4.
28–31 October 2020
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
- Fraser Sheat (Canterbury) took his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[17]
- Jamie Gibson (Wellington) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[18]
- Will Williams (Cantebury) took his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[18]
- Points: Canterbury 20, Wellington 2.
Round 3 edit
5–8 November 2020
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- No play was possible due to rain.
- Points: Auckland 4, Central Districts 4.
5–8 November 2020
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- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- Tom Blundell (Wellington) was given out obstructing the field.[19]
- Points: Otago 18, Wellington 5.
5–8 November 2020
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- Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
- Sean Davey (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
- Points: Canterbury 18, Northern Districts 4.
Round 4 edit
14–17 November 2020
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Points: Northern Districts 17, Central Districts 4.
14–17 November 2020
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- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- Points: Wellington 7, Auckland 3.
14–17 November 2020
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- Otago won the toss and elected to bat.
- Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury) took his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[20]
- Points: Canterbury 8, Otago 1.
Round 5 edit
11–14 March 2021
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- Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 1 due to rain.
- Luke Georgeson (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
11–14 March 2021
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on days 1 and 3 due to rain.
- Ross ter Braak (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
- Louis Delport (Auckland) took a hat-trick.[21]
Round 6 edit
18–21 March 2021
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Troy Johnson (Wellington) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[22]
18–21 March 2021
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
- Angus McKenzie (Otago) and Cole Briggs (Auckland) both made their first-class debuts.
19–22 March 2021
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- Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
- Jayden Lennox (Central Districts) made his first-class debut.
Round 7 edit
26–29 March 2021
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- Otago won the toss and elected to bat.
- Michael Rae (Otago) took a hat-trick.[23]
27–30 March 2021
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- Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
- Harry Chamberlain (Canterbury) and Ryan Harrison (Auckland) both made their first-class debuts.
27–30 March 2021
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- Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on days 3 and 4 due to rain.
- Matthew Fisher (Northern Districts) made his first-class debut.
Round 8 edit
References edit
- ^ "Plunket Shield 2020–21" (PDF). New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Plunket Shield cancelled, Wellington Firebirds declared champions". Stuff. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Wellington awarded Plunket Shield as final rounds of competition are cancelled". The Cricketer. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Daryl Mitchell, Jeet Raval and Finn Allen among major domestic movers in New Zealand". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Auckland lose Jeet Raval to Northern Districts, Finn Allen to Wellington in domestic contracts". Stuff. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Professional cricket set to resume in new COVID-19 world". Cricket New Zealand. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand domestic season to begin on October 19 with Plunket Shield". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Rain dominates as domestic first-class cricket season gets underway". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Auckland seamer Ben Lister becomes first Covid-19 replacement". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Ben Lister becomes first 'COVID replacement' in cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Canterbury secure first four-day title since 2017 after thumping Central Stags". Stuff. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Plunket Shield Table - 2020–21". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Kyle Jamieson, Sean Solia help Auckland steamroll Otago". Stuff. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Black Caps quick Kyle Jamieson snares impressive five-wicket bag". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Century Awaits George Worker". Central Districts Cricket Association. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Kyle Jamieson's hat-trick continues prolific start to season for New Zealand quick". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Bowlers reign despite Joe Carter's unbeaten century in Plunket Shield". Stuff. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Plunket Shield: Doug Bracewell's stunning all-round performance in vain as Auckland win again". Stuff. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Tom Blundell out in bizarre manner in Plunket Shield fixture". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ^ "Marathon innings from Max Chu rescues draw for Otago Volts against Canterbury". Stuff. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ "Louis Delport snares Plunket Shield hat-trick; Canterbury, Central Stags secure wins". Stuff. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Troy Johnson's maiden first-class century guides Wellington to strong position". Stuff. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Plunket Shield: Otago's Michael Rae, Dale Phillips combine for rare bowler-fielder hat-trick". Stuff. Retrieved 28 March 2021.