15 Nov 2016

Wellington Plunket Shield match abandoned

10:06 am on 15 November 2016

The Plunket Shield cricket match between the Wellington Firebirds and the Central Stags at the Basin Reserve has been abandoned.

Scheduled to start yesterday morning, the four-day game was delayed by a day after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake meant the venue had to undergo safety assessments.

But frequent aftershocks in the capital have left players sleep-deprived and anxious, and in no fit state to start the game.

While the Basin Reserve has been assessed as safe by structural engineers and the match has been given the go-ahead by local authorities, New Zealand Cricket has decided proceeding with the game would be unfair on the players involved.

Options for re-playing the four-day match will be considered by New Zealand Cricket over the coming week.

- RNZ