Plunket Shield 2023-24 Top run-getters and wicket-takers after Wellington vs Northern Knights (Updated) ft. Dale Phillips and Nathan Smith

Wellington Firebirds (94) emerged as champions of Plunket Shield 2023-24 for the first time since the 2019-20 season, securing a three-point victory over Northern Districts (91) in the final standings.

Central Districts secured an innings and a 40-run win over Otago in the 22nd match while Canterbury bagged a six-wicket win over Auckland in the 23rd clash. Meanwhile, the 24th match between Wellington and Northern Districts ended in a draw

Moving to the details of the 22nd game, Otago batted first and posted a total of 309, thanks to Dale Phillips' 144-run knock. Liam Dudding scalped a three-fer.

In response, Central Districts scored 580 runs, courtesy of captain Greg Hay's 179-run knock and Will Young's 90 runs. They gathered a 271-run lead after the conclusion of the first innings.

In the third innings, Otago notched up a total of 231 runs with Travis Muller scoring 71 runs as they suffered an innings and a 40-run loss. Liam Dudding continued his good form with a fifer.

Shifting our focus to the 23rd encounter, Auckland registered a below-par total of 216 runs. Zakary Foulkes was at his best, pocketing a fifer. In response, Canterbury racked up 242 runs to take a 26-run lead. Jordan Sussex was the wrecker-in-chief with an eight-wicket haul.

In the third innings, Auckland reached a total of 257 runs, thanks to Sean Solia's 84-run knock. Sean Davey was the standout bowler with a four-fer.

With Canterbury needing 232 runs to win in the fourth innings, they sealed the deal in 47.5 overs. Chad Bowes (60) and Rhys Mariu (62) were the crucial batters in the chase.

Delving into the details of the 24th contest, Wellington accumulated a total of 323 runs, thanks to Tom Blundell's 103-run knock. Joe Walker and Frederick Walker scalped four wickets each.

In response, Northern Knights posted 362 runs with Tim Seifer top-scoring (104). In the third innings, Wellington could post 127/4 in 36 overs as the game ended in a draw.

On that note, let’s take a look at the leading run-scorers and wicket-takers after the conclusion of the Plunket Shield 2023-24 season

---

Plunket Shield 2023-24 Most Runs List

Sr. No	Player	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	0	4s	6s
1	DN Phillips (OTAGO)	8	15	1	686	144	49	1009	67.98	2	4	1	102	5
2	GR Severin (WELL)	8	14	-	657	143	46.92	1300	50.53	2	4	-	76	4
3	GR Hay (CD)	8	13	-	643	179	49.46	1466	43.86	2	3	1	82	0
4	NF Kelly (WELL)	8	14	1	605	138	46.53	989	61.17	1	4	1	74	8
5	SM Solia (AUCK)	8	15	-	602	206	40.13	1277	47.14	1	4	2	79	3
6	JF Carter (ND)	8	12	1	593	124	53.9	1222	48.52	1	6	-	63	12
7	MJ Hay (CANT)	8	15	4	562	146	51.09	1076	52.23	1	3	1	50	12
8	GH Worker (AUCK)	8	15	-	489	72	32.6	931	52.52	-	5	1	59	8
9	WT O'Donnell (AUCK)	8	15	-	487	102	32.46	1155	42.16	1	2	-	60	4
10	MW Chu (OTAGO)	8	15	-	473	80	31.53	909	52.03	-	1	1	54	2

Otago's Dale Phillips moved up from the fourth to the top spot, smacking 686 runs from 15 innings at an average of 49 with six fifty-plus totals. Wellington’s Gareth Severin retained his second rank, hitting 657 runs from 14 innings.

Central Districts’ Greg Hay ascended from the eighth to the third rank, accumulating 643 runs from 13 innings. Wellington's Nick Kelly slipped from the top to the fourth rank with 605 runs. Auckland’s Seal Solia (602) slipped from the fifth to the sixth rank.

Joe Carter (593) slid from the third to the sixth spot. Mitchell Hay (562) descended from the sixth to the seventh slot. George Worker (489) ascended to the eighth rank. William O'Donnell (487) glided down from the seventh to the ninth spot. Otago’s Max Chu (473) propelled to the 10th position.

---

Plunket Shield 2023-24 Most Wickets List

Sr. No	Player	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5
1	NG Smith (WELL)	7	12	1156	192.4	41	567	33	6/36	17.18	2.94	35.03	1	2
2	JA Duffy (OTAGO)	8	13	1600	266.4	55	757	31	6/89	24.41	2.83	51.61	1	1
3	SC Kuggeleijn (ND)	6	12	1073	178.5	33	513	30	6/60	17.1	2.86	35.76	1	2
4	ZGF Foulkes (CANT)	8	16	1351	225.1	47	671	28	5/38	23.96	2.98	48.25	1	1
5	PF Younghusband (WELL)	8	13	1374	229	34	751	28	5/65	26.82	3.27	49.07	-	1
6	KDC Clarke (ND)	6	12	1098	183	40	650	27	6/45	24.07	3.55	40.66	-	2
7	AY Patel (CD)	8	15	1861	310.1	69	844	26	7/78	32.46	2.72	71.57	-	1
8	MD Rae (CANT)	6	12	1110	185	28	611	25	4/73	24.44	3.3	44.4	1	-
9	BM Tickner (CD)	8	15	1606	267.4	54	822	25	4/62	32.88	3.07	64.24	1	-
10	L Delport (AUCK)	6	11	1368	228	31	782	24	6/98	32.58	3.42	57	1	1

Nathan Smith, the Wellington pacer, ended the season as the leading wicket-taker, scalping 33 wickets from 12 innings. Otago's Jacob Duffy scalped 31 wickets to retain his second rank. Scott Kuggeleijn (30) maintained his third position at an average of 17.1 from 12 innings.

Zakary Foulkes (28) ascended from the eighth to the fourth spot at 23.96 while Peter Younghusband (28) settled in the fifth position, averaging 26.82. Kristian Clarke (27) slipped from the fourth to the sixth slot.

Ajaz Patel (26) slid from the sixth to the seventh spot while Michael Rae (25) ascended from the 10th to the eighth slot at 24.44. Blair Tickner (25) and Louis Delport (24) ascended from the ninth and 10th positions at 32.88 and 32.58 respectively.