New Zealand domestic cricket has recently observed a bizarre first-class match when both the participating teams declared the innings on 0/0 to make available the game for a result, which came on the penultimate over of the day.
It was the Plunket Shield (four-day game) match between Central Districts and Canterbury at Nelson that was played from October 10 to 13. After Central Districts ended the day one on 301/7, the next two days were completely washed out due to rains.
Initially, it seemed like a dead-rubber final day (fourth day) but both teams had something different on their minds that added some spice in this game. Adding 51 more runs on the day four morning, Central Districts declared their innings on 352/7 while Canterbury replied with a 0/0 declare.
Soon, Central Districts set the 353-run target in 89 overs in front of Canterbury as Central Districts also declared their second innings on 0/0.
Suddenly it became a great match where Central Districts finally won by 145 runs after they bundled out Canterbury for 207 runs in the fourth innings of the match. When Canterbury was bundled out, they had just six balls left to make a draw result of that game.
On the day one morning, Canterbury captain Cole McConchie decided to field first after winning the toss. After the Central Districts’ top-order batsmen departed quickly, Ross Taylor, Dane Cleaver, Willem Ludick and Christian Leopard set a good total for them. While Ludick (116*) completed his century on the day four, Taylor (75), Cleaver (56) and Leopard (52) all played their 50+ knocks on the opening day.
In reply, only Henry Nicholls (43) and the last batsman Andrew Hazeldine (41) reached the 30-run marks during Canterbury’s fourth innings of the match. After falling down 131/9, Hazeldine had a 76-run partnership with Will Williams (28*) for the last wicket that ran for 25.5 overs. While Canterbury had to play 89 overs, the desperate final wicket partnership stretched the innings to 88 overs but just failed to manage a stunning draw.
The Central Districts’ right-arm pacer Seth Rance claimed a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings as his bowling figure was 20-4-53-5.
This game reminds us the infamous Test match between South Africa and England at Centurion in January 2000, when England declared their first innings on 0/0 and South Africa forfeited their second innings to make available the game for a result. In that five-day game, three days were completely washed out in rains. Only their first day and the final day of that Test observed the actions on the field.
In the reply of South Africa’s 248/8 declare in the first innings, England managed a 2-wicket victory after scoring 251/8 while only five balls left of the day’s play.
Later, it was revealed that the South African captain Hansie Cronje had accepted money and a gift from a bookie to make an early declaration in that game.
