# 2023–24 Plunket Shield season

The 2023–24 Plunket Shield was the 95th season of the Plunket Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition that is played in New Zealand. The tournament started on 20 October 2023, and the final round of matches began on 24 March 2024. Central Districts are the defending champions, having won their 12th title the previous year.
Wellington won the tournament to clinch their 22nd Plunket Shield title, finishing on 94 points with 4 wins, despite rain washing out the final day of the last round.

## Points table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Wellington (C) | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 94 |
| 2 | Northern Districts | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 91 |
| 3 | Central Districts | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 85 |
| 4 | Canterbury | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 84 |
| 5 | Otago | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 54 |
| 6 | Auckland | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 51 |
* 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. (C) Champion

## Fixtures
### Round 1

* 20–23 October 2023 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by an innings and 77 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: Billy Bowden and Wayne Knights
* Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Central Districts 19, Auckland 3
* 20–23 October 2023 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by an innings and 32 runs Seddon Park, Hamilton Umpires: John Dempsey and Tim Parlane
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Jamal Todd (Otago) made his first-class debut.
* Sandeep Patel (Northern Districts) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Points: Northern Districts 20, Otago 6.
* 20–23 October 2023 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 129 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: Kim Cotton and Shaun Haig
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
* Dylan Hunter (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
* Points: Wellington 19, Canterbury 4.

### Round 2

* 28–31 October 2023 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by 9 wickets Eden Park, Auckland Umpires: Billy Bowden and Tim Parlane
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Northern Districts 18, Auckland 4.
* 28–31 October 2023 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 172 runs Saxton Oval, Nelson Umpires: John Dempsey and Kannan Jagannathan
* Wellington won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Wellington 17, Central Districts 4.
* 28–31 October 2023 Scorecard
* Match drawn Hagley Oval, Christchurch Umpires: Cory Black and Derek Walker
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Canterbury 7, Otago 4.

### Round 3

* 6–9 November 2023 Scorecard
* Match drawn Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Billy Bowden and Cory Black
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Wellington 6, Northern Districts 4.
* 6–9 November 2023 Scorecard
* Canterbury won by 8 wickets Hagley Oval, Christchurch Umpires: Kim Cotton and Derek Walker
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Canterbury 20, Auckland 3.
* 6–9 November 2023 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by 50 runs University of Otago Oval, Dunedin Umpires: Shaun Haig and Wayne Knights
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Central Districts 16, Otago 5.

### Round 4

* 15–18 November 2023 Scorecard
* Match drawn Eden Park, Auckland Umpires: Kannan Jagannathan and Derek Walker
* Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Gareth Severin (Wellington) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Points: Auckland 7, Wellington 5.
* 15–18 November 2023 Scorecard
* Match drawn McLean Park, Napier Umpires: John Dempsey and Wayne Knights
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
* Points: Canterbury 5, Central Districts 4.
* 15–18 November 2023 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by 34 runs University of Otago Oval, Dunedin Umpires: Cory Black and Tim Parlane
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Llew Johnson (Otago) made his first-class debut.
* Points: Northern Districts 16, Otago 5

### Round 5

* 29 February – 3 March 2024 Scorecard
* Match drawn Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui Umpires: Kim Cotton and Tim Parlane
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
* Angus Schaw (Central Districts) made his first-class debut and scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Blair Tickner was replaced by Jayden Lennox during the match after sustaining a concussion.
* Points: Central Districts 7, Northern Districts 5
* 29 February – 3 March 2024 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 5 wickets Rangiora Recreation Ground, Rangiora Umpires: John Dempsey and Shaun Haig
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
* Ken McClure was replaced by Michael Rippon during the match after sustaining a concussion.
* Points: Wellington 17, Canterbury 8
* 29 February – 3 March 2024 Scorecard
* Match drawn University Oval, Dunedin Umpires: Cory Black and Chris Brown
* Auckland won the toss and elected to bat.
* Harjot Johal, Jock McKenzie and Angus Olliver (Auckland) all made their first-class debuts.
* Points: Auckland 8, Otago 7

### Round 6

* 8–11 March 2024 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by 63 runs Seddon Park, Hamilton Umpires: Cory Black and Derek Walker
* Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
* Brett Hampton (Northern Districts) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Points: Northern Districts 17, Auckland 4
* 8–11 March 2024 Scorecard
* Match drawn Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North Umpires: Wayne Knights and Pete Pasco
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Curtis Heaphy (Central Districts) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Points: Wellington 3, Central Districts 8
* 8–11 March 2024 Scorecard
* Otago won by 9 wickets Molyneux Park, Alexandra Umpires: Billy Bowden and Kim Cotton
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Luke Georgeson (Otago) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
* Points: Otago 16, Canterbury 4

### Round 7

* 16–19 March 2024 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 41 runs McLean Park, Napier Umpires: John Dempsey and Glen Walklin
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Jordan Sussex (Auckland) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
* Points: Auckland 17, Central Districts 7
* 16–19 March 2024 Scorecard
* Wellington won by an innings 42 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Chris Brown and Tim Parlane
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Wellington 20, Otago 6
* 16–19 March 2024 Scorecard
* Canterbury won by 5 wickets Rangiora Recreation Ground, Rangiora Umpires: Shaun Haig and Greg Pennell
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
* Mitchell Hay (Canterbury) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* Points: Canterbury 19, Northern Districts 3

### Round 8

* 24–27 March 2024 Scorecard
* Canterbury won by 6 wickets Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: Billy Bowden and Wayne Knights
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
* Zak Foulkes (Canterbury) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
* Points: Canterbury 17, Auckland 5
* 24–27 March 2024 Scorecard
* Match drawn Seddon Park, Hamilton Umpires: John Dempsey and Shaun Haig
* Wellington won the toss and elected to bat.
* No play was possible on day 4 due to rain.
* Points: Wellington 7, Northern Districts 8
* 24–27 March 2024 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by an innings and 40 runs McLean Park, Napier Umpires: Damian Morrow and Derek Walker
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Points: Central Districts 20, Otago 5