Plunket Shield Points Divvied From Quake-Affected Match
New Zealand Cricket has made its decision regarding the allocation of points from the round five Plunket Shield match between the Canterbury Wizards and the Wellington Firebirds, which was cancelled in the aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake last week.
Both teams will recieve three points for the match, which had been due to start at the ruined QEII Park's Village Green.
The divvying of points promotes the Canterbury Wizards by one place into third spot on the table, breathing down the necks of the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights - who play the Volts in Whangarei from Monday.
Defending champions the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights remain in second spot on the points table, behind only early frontrunners the Central Stags. Teams win six points for an outright win and a further 2 points if they have also been ahead on the first innings. Teams that lose the match but are ahead on the first innings receive two points.
The updated points situation heading into next week's round six:
Central Stags 26
Northern Knights 18
Canterbury Wizards 15
Otago Volts 14
Wellington Firebirds 13
Auckland Aces 2