The Plunket Shield delivers a high-quality late-evening fixture as the composed Wellington Firebirds welcome the confident Central Stags to the iconic Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington on 25 November. Scheduled for 21:30 UK, play begins early the following morning for Indian viewers at 03:00 IST (26 November). With both teams pushing to build early-season momentum, this match promises disciplined red-ball cricket featuring swing, seam, patience, and plenty of tactical nous.
Form Guide
Wellington Firebirds
The Firebirds have shown promising resilience this season, particularly through their disciplined pace attack. Their batters have delivered solid partnerships, and while occasional collapses have hurt them, their ability to fight back across sessions has been encouraging. Their home advantage at the Basin—one of New Zealand’s most swing-friendly venues—gives them a strong platform to challenge a quality Stags unit.
- Pace attack exploiting Basin Reserve swing and seam movement.
- Top-order partnerships showing increased stability.
- Fielders sharp in the cordon, taking key chances.
Central Stags
The Stags arrive in strong form, bolstered by a powerful batting core and a versatile bowling lineup. Their top order has been highly productive, while their middle order has stepped up in pressure situations. Their seamers have maintained disciplined lengths, and their spin options have offered balance in longer spells. Consistency across all four days remains their main strength going into this clash.
- Top three scoring heavily with positive intent.
- Seamers delivering long, accurate spells with control.
- Spinners offering variation and important containment.
Key Players
Wellington Firebirds
- Rachin Ravindra – Elegant all-rounder capable of constructing long innings and providing probing left-arm spin.
- Tom Blundell – Reliable senior batter with the technique to survive testing early spells.
- Logan van Beek – Strike bowler who thrives in Basin conditions with swing and seam.
Central Stags
- Will Young – Classy top-order batter with the ability to grind through long spells.
- Dane Cleaver – Dependable wicketkeeper-batter offering stability and counter-attacking options.
- Ray Toole – Left-arm quick generating bounce and movement, especially early.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The Basin Reserve is one of New Zealand’s premier venues for seam bowling, offering consistent bounce and pronounced swing—particularly under cloud cover and in early sessions. Batting becomes more favourable as the match progresses, though disciplined technique is essential. Spinners may come into play late on day three and day four as footmarks develop. Cool Wellington conditions around 16–18°C with light winds are expected, favouring seamers throughout the contest.
Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags – Prediction
This match is poised to be a classic Basin Reserve battle. Wellington will lean heavily on Rachin Ravindra to anchor their innings and Logan van Beek to exploit home conditions. The Stags, however, bring outstanding balance and confidence. If Will Young settles early and Ray Toole hits his lengths, Central Districts could control key phases. Expect a hard-fought match, with the Stags holding a slight edge—either forcing a result late on day four or asserting dominance through superior batting depth.
Dream 11 Fantasy Picks
- Rachin Ravindra – Premier all-rounder with strong batting and bowling upside.
- Will Young – High-value long-innings specialist.
- Logan van Beek – Likely wicket-taker in seam-friendly conditions.
