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Canterbury claimed the Plunket Shield title – in the competition’s 100th edition – but a tight race had to be decided by the second tie-breaker.
Both Canterbury and Otago finished level on points and wins (four), which would have been the initial deciding factor, so it came down to a net-runs-per-wicket permutation – calculated on runs-per-wicket for minus runs-per-wicket against – across the whole season, which Canterbury were comfortably ahead on.
In the final round, Canterbury built a huge lead over Auckland as they piled up 591 with Leo Carter making 169, to finish the season averaging 70.50 from four matches, and Rhys Mariu 142. It meant that Otago’s four-wicket win over Wellington – where they chased down 345 having been 84 for 9 in their first innings – wasn’t enough to overtake them. It was the 21st time Canterbury had won the Plunket Shield.
“For us, and I think for most teams, it [the Plunket Shield] is the pinnacle. It’s the hardest format, and we know how much hard work goes into it.” Canterbury captain Henry Nicholls, who was the competition’s leading run-scorer with 870 at 96.66, said.
“To reflect on the start of the season, to be here now… some guys like myself have won it a few times, but some of the guys who haven’t, it’s an incredibly special feeling. I felt like we played so much good cricket this year we deserved to have something to show for it. You don’t always get what you deserve, but it’s a bloody good feeling.”
Nicholls also acknowledged the role played by former coach Peter Fulton, who left before the conclusion of the season to take up his new role with Middlesex. “He’s played a massive part in shaping the team we have today, and the success is a credit to so many people within the organisation in Canterbury,” he said.
Fraser Sheat was Canterbury’s leading wicket-taker with 28 at 25.67, one ahead of Michael Rae, who made his Test debut against West Indies during the season. Raymond Toole of Central Districts was the overall leading wicket-taker for the tournament with 35 at 23.57.
