The Central Stags cricketers are catching up on early Plunket Shield leaders the Wellington Firebirds, remaining in second spot after the opening three rounds but closing the gap to 15 points.
With five rounds remaining, 20 points available per round and the Stags and Firebirds set to play each other twice in the back end of the championship, which will resume in late February, it's game on in the quest for the first Plunket Shield three-peat in 80 years.
Despite a raft of pre-season injuries - leading to an injury bench full of seasoned performers - and four new faces in the squad over the past three weeks, the Stags have survived with a tight first-up loss against the Auckland Aces, a dramatic outright win against Northern Districts in a tough match at the Mount, and a draw with maximum bowling points salvaged from a weather-hit match at Nelson's Saxton Oval against Canterbury which ended yesterday.
Attention now turns to the Ford Trophy, with the start of the white-ball season from 11am on Sunday at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park. The Stags will be meeting Canterbury again in the first round, a side they beat at the same venue two years ago.
Canterbury will be looking forward to resting their legs after the Stags forced them to run around the field for the final two days of the third-round Plunket Shield match, in between numerous weather and light interruptions that cost valuable time in the contest.
