2025–26 Plunket Shield season

2025–26 Plunket Shield
Dates18 November 2025 – 30 March 2026
AdministratorNew Zealand Cricket
Cricket formatFirst-class
Tournament formatRound-robin
Participants6
Matches24

The 2025–26 Plunket Shield is the 100th season of the Plunket Shield, a domestic first-class cricket competition that is taking place in New Zealand.[1] The tournament is starting on 18 November 2025 and will conclude on 30 March 2026.[2] Northern Districts were the defending champions, having won their 9th title the previous season.[3]

Points table

Pos Team Pld W L D Pts
1 Auckland 4 2 1 1 49
2 Canterbury 4 2 1 1 48
3 Northern Districts 4 2 1 1 47
4 Central Districts 4 2 1 1 40
5 Otago 4 1 1 2 40
6 Wellington 4 0 4 0 18
Updated to match(es) played on 13–16 December 2025. Source: ESPNcricinfo, NZC
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) wins; 3) net average per wicket.
  • Points system: 12 for a win, 6 for a tie, 0 for a draw or loss.
  • Batting bonus points: 1 point each for reaching 200, 250, 300, and 350 runs within the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.
  • Bowling bonus points: 1 point each for taking 3, 5, 7, and 9 wickets within the first 110 overs of each team's first innings.

Fixtures

Round 1

18–21 November 2025
Scorecard
v
406 (101.3 overs)
Lachlan Stackpole 148 (112)
Josh Clarkson 4/63 (19.3 overs)
191 (57 overs)
Brad Schmulian 46 (86)
Jock McKenzie 5/35 (17 overs)
154 (53.1 overs) (f/o)
Brad Schmulian 62 (107)
Rohit Gulati 5/46 (21.1 overs)
Auckland won by an innings and 61 runs
Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North
Umpires: Kim Cotton and John Dempsey
  • Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Taylor Bettelheim (Central Districts) and Harrish Kannan (Auckland) both made their first-class debuts.
  • Lachlan Stackpole (Auckland) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.[4]
  • Rohit Gulati (Auckland) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[5]
  • Points: Auckland 20, Central Districts 4
18–21 November 2025
Scorecard
v
522/9d (120 overs)
Jack Boyle 156 (254)
Nick Greenwood 3/40 (11 overs)
224 (57.1 overs)
Tim Robinson 87* (102)
Danru Ferns 4/44 (12.1 overs)
96/3 (22 overs)
Jacob Cumming 43* (69)
James Hartshorn 2/39 (10 overs)
393 (94 overs) (f/o)
Nick Kelly 150 (211)
Matthew Bacon 3/53 (13 overs)
Otago won by 7 wickets
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Umpires: Cory Black and Peter Pasco
  • Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
  • Tom Jones (Otago) made his first-class debut.
  • Jacob Cumming and Tom Jones (Otago) both scored their maiden centuries in first-class cricket.[4]
  • Points: Otago 20, Wellington 4
18–21 November 2025
Scorecard
v
237 (77.5 overs)
Bharat Popli 69 (124)
Michael Rae 4/45 (18 overs)
248 (87.4 overs)
Matt Boyle 70 (124)
Joshua Harvey Brown 3/34 (13 overs)
380/8d (106 overs)
Bharat Popli 116 (174)
Angus McKenzie 3/72 (23 overs)
371/5 (93.1 overs)
Matt Boyle 156* (251)
Joshua Brown 3/61 (17 overs)
Canterbury won by 5 wickets
Rangiora Recreation Ground, Rangiora
Umpires: Shaun Haig and Kannan Jagannathan
  • Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
  • Aryan Mann (Northern Districts) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Canterbury 16, Northern Districts 5[a]

Round 2

26–29 November 2025
Scorecard
v
307 (99.1 overs)
Ryan Harrison 54* (112)
Kris Clarke 4/53 (22.1 overs)
152 (60.2 overs)
Henry Cooper 43 (100)
Rohit Gulati 6/51 (22 overs)
354/5d (91.4 overs)
Dale Phillips 107 (9177)
Tim Pringle 4/136 (30 overs)
429/6 (133 overs)
Henry Cooper 206* (388)
Rohit Gulati 4/124 (51 overs)
Match drawn
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Umpires: Kannan Jagannathan and Craig Pryor
  • Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
  • James Naylor (Northern Districts) made his first-class debut.
  • Jeet Raval (Northern Districts) scored his 10,000th run in first-class cricket.[7]
  • Rohit Gulati (Auckland) took his maiden ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[8]
  • Points: Auckland 7, Northern Districts 4
26–29 November 2025
Scorecard
v
354/9d (87.3 overs)
Tim Robinson 108 (129)
Blair Tickner 4/68 (21.3 overs)
118/3d (39 overs)
Dean Foxcroft 53* (91)
Liam Dudding 2/11 (7 overs)
124/4d (22 overs)
Jesse Tashkoff 31 (28)
Ajaz Patel 2/48 (8 overs)
365/2 (83.1 overs)
Brad Schmulian 167* (228)
Jesse Tashkoff 1/46 (9.1 overs)
Central Districts won by 8 wickets
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Umpires: John Dempsey and Greg Pennell
  • Wellington won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Only 50 and 4 overs play was possible on day 1 and 2 respectively, due to rain.
  • Points: Central Districts 16, Wellington 5
26–29 November 2025
Scorecard
v
501/7d (121.2 overs)
Henry Nicholls 111 (157)
Jarrod McKay 2/63 (19 overs)
342 (90.4 overs)
Glenn Phillips 94 (128)
Ish Sodhi 4/110 (22 overs)
223/4d (57.3 overs)
Henry Nicholls 109* (119)
Luke Georgeson 2/9 (7 overs)
214/6 (83.3 overs)
Thorn Parkes 44 (90)
Ish Sodhi 3/74 (27 overs)
Match drawn
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Umpires: Shaun Haig and Niel Louw
  • Otago won the toss and elected to field.
  • Ish Sodhi and Sean Davey (Canterbury) both scored their maiden centuries in first-class cricket.
  • Points: Canterbury 7, Otago 6

Round 3

5–8 December 2025
Scorecard
v
350/9d (89 overs)
Cam Fletcher 79 (170)
Liam Dudding 5/67 (15 overs)
249 (75.4 overs)
Callum McLachlan 89* (160)
Simon Keene 4/36 (17 overs)
384/9d (103.3 overs)
Bevon Jacobs 125 (135)
Nick Greenwood 2/61 (13 overs)
323 (100.4 overs)
Tim Robinson 106 (144)
Rohit Gulati 3/71 (32 overs)
Auckland won by 162 runs
Eden Park, Auckland
Umpires: Cory Black and Brent Bowden
  • Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Yahya Zeb (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Auckland 20, Wellington 5
5–8 December 2025
Scorecard
v
346 (106.2 overs)
Bharat Popli 91 (156)
Toby Hart 6/73 (21 overs)
289 (102.2 overs)
Luke Georgeson 74 (203)
Brett Hampton 3/49 (15.2 overs)
296/9d (80 overs)
Joe Carter 119* (186)
Luke Georgeson 2/20 (9 overs)
240 (84 overs)
Max Chu 60 (77)
Zak Gibson 4/42 (15 overs)
Northern Districts won by 113 runs
Seddon Park, Hamilton
Umpires: John Dempsey and Greg Pennell
  • Otago won the toss and elected to field.
  • Toby Hart (Otago) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
  • James Naylor replaced Kris Clarke as an substitute for Northern Districts during Otago's second innings.
  • Points: Northern Districts 19, Otago 6
5–8 December 2025
Scorecard
v
239 (85.3 overs)
Curtis Heaphy 119 (249)
Michael Rae 3/65 (17 overs)
124 (49.2 overs)
Chad Bowes 33 (61)
Josh Clarkson 4/33 (13.2 overs)
330 (99.2 overs)
Brad Schmulian 93 (175)
Cole McConchie 3/45 (11 overs)
150 (81.3 overs)
Jesse Frew 30 (171)
Ajaz Patel 3/37 (29 overs)
Central Districts won by 295 runs
McLean Park, Napier
Umpires: Chris Brown and Kannan Jagannathan
  • Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Ajaz Patel (Central Districts) took his 400th wickets in first-class cricket.[9]
  • Jesse Frew replaced Mitchell Hay as a substitute for Canterbury during Central Districts' second innings.
  • Fraser Sheat replaced Michael Rae as a substitute for Canterbury during Central Districts' second innings.
  • Points: Central Districts 17, Canterbury 4

Round 4

13–16 December 2025
Scorecard
v
319 (100.4 overs)
Nick Kelly 111 (228)
Tim Pringle 4/38 (21.4 overs)
571/9d (157 overs)
Jeet Raval 108 (217)
Elliot Seddon 5/150 (47 overs)
224 (91.2 overs)
Peter Younghusband 66 (190)
Tim Pringle 4/45 (32.2 overs)
Northern Dis won by an innings and 28 runs
Cobham Oval, Whangārei
Umpires: Chris Brown and Brad Wilson
  • Wellington won the toss and elected to bat.
  • Elliot Seddon (Wellington) took maiden five-wicket haul on his first-class debut.
  • Points: Northern Districts 19, Wellington 4
13–16 December 2025
Scorecard
v
138 (48.1 overs)
Simon Keene 52 (71)
Fraser Sheat 3/14 (13 overs)
534/8d (119 overs)
Henry Nicholls 226 (314)
Ryan Harrison 3/91 (21 overs)
324 (107.3 overs)
Simon Keene 152 (153)
Sean Davey 4/41 (19.3 overs)
Canterbury won by an innings and 72 runs
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Umpires: Kim Cotton and Niel Louw
  • Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
  • Callum Cameron (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
  • Points: Canterbury 20, Auckland 2
13–16 December 2025
Scorecard
v
416/7d (116 overs)
Max Chu 151 (245)
Tyler Annand 3/85 (24 overs)
224 (61.5 overs)
Dean Foxcroft 94 (120)
Danru Ferns 4/57 (15 overs)
351/8 (101 overs) (f/o)
Dane Cleaver 93* (114)
Danru Ferns 3/82 (23 overs)
Match drawn
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Umpires: Shaun Haig and Kannan Jagannathan
  • Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
  • Only 58 and 36 overs play was possible on day 3 and 4 respectively, due to rain.
  • Oscar Mabin (Central Districts) made his first-class debut.
  • Jayden Lennox replaced Ajaz Patel as a substitute for Central Districts during their second innings.
  • Points: Otago 8, Central Districts 3

Round 5

28 February–3 March 2026
Scorecard
v
28 February–3 March 2026
Scorecard
v
28 February–3 March 2026
Scorecard
v

Round 6

9–12 March 2026
Scorecard
v

Round 7

Round 8

Notes

  1. ^ Canterbury were deducted a total of 1 points for maintaining a slow over-rate.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Plunket Shield's 100th season to start on November 18". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Centenary season confirmed for Plunket Shield". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  3. ^ "NORTHERN DISTRICTS ARE 2024/25 PLUNKET SHIELD CHAMPIONS". The Niche Cache. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Century spree opens Plunket Shield". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Stag hunt as Aces take revenge". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Canterbury receives penalty for slow over rate". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the 10K club, Jeet Raval". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Echoes of Ajaz Patel? Meet Rohit Gulati". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Ajaz Patel reaches 400 first-class wickets in Stags win". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
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