Cricket: New Plymouth to host State Shield final

Central Districts chief executive Blair Furlong confirmed the State Shield one-day final between Central Districts and the winner of the Northern Districts-Canterbury match will be played at Pukekura Park on Saturday.

And the following day, New Zealand's top players including their internationals will play in the State of Origin one-day match.

The fixtures come during a summer in which Taranaki cricket fans have been starved of top cricket.

With the abandonment of the Sri Lanka versus Central Districts one-dayer at Yarrow Stadium just before Christmas, only one State Shield match -- between Central and Otago -- has been played in New Plymouth.

"As long as things don't change unexpectedly, we will be playing both matches at Pukekura Park," Furlong said.

He said the matches were originally planned for Napier.

"But we can't play in Napier, because of the Rod Stewart concert.

"There's no accommodation available and we need something like 80 rooms for players and television staff alone.

"So we had to find an alternative -- and that is New Plymouth."

Furlong put the wheels in motion to shift the game late last week when it looked as though Central Districts would win the right to host the final as top qualifier.

Although still to be confirmed, it is expected both matches will start at noon and will be televised live on Sky Sport.

Sunday has been set aside as a reserve day for the one-day final.

It will take preference over the State of Origin match if it is not completed on Saturday.

- NZPA