# 2017–18 Plunket Shield season

The 2017–18 Plunket Shield was the 89th season of the Plunket Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in New Zealand. The competition started on 23 October 2017 and finished on 5 April 2018. Canterbury were the defending champions.
The round eight fixture between Canterbury and Auckland at the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora was called off due to an unsafe pitch. The umpires abandoned the game after only three balls were bowled on day three of the match.
Central Districts won the tournament, following the final round of fixtures, after their nearest rivals, Wellington, failed to win their last match.

## Points table

| Team | Pld | W | L | D | Ab | Pts |
| Central Districts | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 131 |
| Wellington | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 127 |
| Auckland | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 105 |
| Northern Districts | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 80 |
| Otago | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 79 |
| Canterbury | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 64 |
Winner

## Fixtures
### Round 1

* 23–26 October 2017 Scorecard
* Wellington won by an innings and 205 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Shaun Haig and Tim Parlane
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
* Ollie Newton (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
* Michael Papps made the highest individual score for Wellington and became the oldest New Zealand batsman to score a triple century in first-class cricket.
* Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock made the highest opening partnership and the highest partnership for any wicket in first-class cricket in New Zealand with 432 runs.
* 23–26 October 2017 Scorecard
* Match drawn Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui Umpires: Tony Gillies and Wayne Knights
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* No play was possible on day 1.
* Brad Schmulian (Central Districts) made his first-class debut.
* Brad Schmulian made the highest total on debut in first-class cricket in New Zealand.
* 23–26 October 2017 Scorecard
* Otago won by 7 wickets Hagley Oval, Christchurch Umpires: Billy Bowden and Chris Brown
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
* Blake Coburn and Fraser Sheat (Canterbury) both made their first-class debuts.

### Round 2

* 30 October–2 November 2017 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by 256 runs Saxton Oval, Nelson Umpires: Chris Brown and Wayne Knights
* Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
* Jesse Ryder (Central Districts) scored his 25th century in first-class cricket.
* 30 October–2 November 2017 Scorecard
* Canterbury won by 8 runs Mainpower Oval, Rangiora Umpires: John Bromley and Shaun Haig
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
* Daniel Sams (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
* Blake Coburn (Canterbury) took his best figures and his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
* 30 October–2 November 2017 Scorecard
* Wellington won by an innings and 43 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Ashley Mehrotra and Derek Walker
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Luke Woodcock played in his 128th game for Wellington, the most first-class appearances for a player with one team in New Zealand.

### Round 3

* 7–10 November 2017 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 82 runs Seddon Park, Hamilton Umpires: Billy Bowden and Tony Gillies
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Logan van Beek (Wellington) took his maiden 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket.
* 7–10 November 2017 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 135 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: John Bromley and Wayne Knights
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* Danru Ferns, Ben Lister (Auckland) and Warren Barnes (Otago) all made their first-class debuts.
* 7–10 November 2017 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by an innings and 86 runs Hagley Oval, Christchurch Umpires: Chris Brown and Tim Parlane
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.

### Round 4

* 15–18 November 2017 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 5 wickets Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Billy Bowden and Garth Stirrat
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
* Hamish Bennett (Wellington) took his maiden ten-wicket match haul in first-class cricket.
* Andrew Ellis scored his 5,000th run for Canterbury in first-class cricket.
* 15–18 November 2017 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by 2 wickets University Oval, Dunedin Umpires: John Dempsey and Tony Gillies
* Otago won the toss and elected to bat.
* 15–18 November 2017 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 8 wickets Seddon Park, Hamilton Umpires: Ashley Mehrotra and Tim Parlane
* Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
* Ben Lister (Auckland) took his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

### Round 5

* 24–27 November 2017 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 24 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: John Dempsey and Ashley Mehrotra
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to field.
* 24–27 November 2017 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by 25 runs Molyneux Park, Alexandra Umpires: Chris Brown and Tim Parlane
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
* 24–27 November 2017 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by 7 wickets Saxton Oval, Nelson Umpires: John Bromley and Derek Walker
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Lauchie Johns (Wellington) made his first-class debut.
* Blair Tickner (Central Districts) took at hat-trick in the first innings.

### Round 6

* 1–4 March 2018 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 140 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: John Dempsey and Tim Parlane
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Jamie Brown (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
* Matt McEwan (Auckland) took a hat-trick.
* 1–4 March 2018 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 10 wickets Hagley Oval, Christchurch Umpires: Greg Davidson and Billy Bowden
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.
* Andrew Hazeldine (Canterbury) and Alex Ridley (Wellington) both made their first-class debuts.
* Logan van Beek (Wellington) took a hat-trick.
* Canterbury's second innings total of 53 was their fourth-lowest total in first-class cricket since 1900.
* 2–5 March 2018 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by 6 wickets McLean Park, Napier Umpires: John Bromley and Tony Gillies
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Greg Hay (Central Districts) scored his 10th century in first-class cricket.

### Round 7

* 9–12 March 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn Cobham Oval, Whangārei Umpires: Garth Stirrat and Tim Parlane
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
* Trevor Garrett (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.
* 9–12 March 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: Eugene Sanders and Billy Bowden
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
* Finn Allen (Auckland) made his first-class debut.
* 10–13 March 2018 Scorecard
* Wellington won by 18 runs University Oval, Dunedin Umpires: Ashley Mehrotra and Derek Walker
* Wellington won the toss and elected to bat.

### Round 8

* 17–20 March 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn Mainpower Oval, Rangiora Umpires: Ashley Mehrotra and John Dempsey
* Canterbury won the toss and elected to bat.
* Ken McClure (Canterbury) scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket.
* Cam Fletcher (Canterbury) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.
* The match was called off in the first over of day three due to an unsafe pitch.
* 17–20 March 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn Cobham Oval, Whangārei Umpires: Eugene Sanders and Tony Gillies
* Otago won the toss and elected to bat.
* Peter Bocock (Northern Districts) made his first-class debut.
* 17–20 March 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: Derek Walker and Tim Parlane
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* Willem Ludick and Felix Murray (Central Districts) both made their first-class debuts.
* Malcolm Nofal (Wellington) scored his maiden century in first-class cricket.

### Round 9

* 25–28 March 2018 Scorecard
* Northern Districts won by an innings and 56 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: John Dempsey and Tony Gillies
* Northern Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* 25–28 March 2018 Scorecard
* Otago won by an innings and 37 runs University Oval, Dunedin Umpires: Shaun Haig and Garth Stirrat
* Auckland won the toss and elected to field.
* 25–28 March 2018 Scorecard
* Central Districts won by an innings and 58 runs McLean Park, Napier Umpires: Ashley Mehrotra and Billy Bowden
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to bat.
* Jeff Case (Canterbury) made his first-class debut.

### Round 10

* 2–5 April 2018 Scorecard
* Match drawn McLean Park, Napier Umpires: Tim Parlane and Billy Bowden
* Central Districts won the toss and elected to field.
* 2–5 April 2018 Scorecard
* Canterbury won by 95 runs University Oval, Dunedin Umpires: John Bromley and Derek Walker
* Otago won the toss and elected to field.
* 2–5 April 2018 Scorecard
* Auckland won by 120 runs Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland Umpires: Wayne Knights and Chris Brown
* Wellington won the toss and elected to field.