Wellington have been crowned Plunket Shield champions after the final day against Northern Districts in Hamilton was washed out.
The match at Seddon Park was effectively a final with Wellington and Northern Districts the only two sides in with a chance of claiming the title in the final round.
Wellington had entered the game with a small lead at the top of the table and were able to accrue enough bonus points over the first two innings to stay ahead.
Northern Districts had given themselves a chance of claiming the title after Tim Seifert‘s century had earned them a small lead of 88 then they had Wellington 127 for 4 in their second innings but they were unable to get into the field on the final day.
“Ideally, you want to see the game go the distance, but it’s a competition [where] you work hard throughout the season, we’re unbeaten the whole season, so I think for me, we are the deserving winners,” Wellington captain Tom Blundell said.
“It’s a pretty special day. For me the Plunket Shield is probably the most rewarding trophy in domestic cricket, you play a whole season, and to come away with the Plunket Shield is pretty special memory.”
Blundell had earlier played a key role with a century in Wellington’s first innings to lift them 323 in a final-wicket stand of 77 with Ben Sears which earned vital bonus points.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo