Cricket: Pukekura Park to host one-day matches as draw released

Photo by John Velvin

Pukekura Park will host four Central Districts one-day matches this summer, including a rematch of last season’s Ford Trophy final.

New Zealand Cricket released the 2026/27 Ford Trophy and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield draws on Monday, with both the Central Stags and Central Hinds returning to New Plymouth.

The Hinds will be first to arrive, hosting the Otago Sparks in back-to-back Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches at Pukekura Park on November 28 and 29.

It will be the side’s only visit to New Plymouth during the one-day competition, with its other home matches split between Palmerston North and Napier.

The Hinds will have home advantage for eight of their 10 regular-season matches this summer, helped by a busy international schedule at grounds in other Major Association regions.

They will be looking to reclaim a title they last won at Pukekura Park in 2019, when they defeated the Auckland Hearts in the national final.

The Central Stags will return to New Plymouth in February for two Ford Trophy matches.

Defending champions Central will host Canterbury at Pukekura Park on Wednesday, February 3, in a rematch of last season’s final, before facing the Otago Volts at the ground on Sunday, February 7.

The Canterbury clash will be the second final rematch of the season, with the two sides also meeting at McLean Park in Napier in November.

Ford Trophy captain Jayden Lennox said this season’s schedule looked different for Central, which had traditionally opened its campaign in New Plymouth.

Instead, the Stags will begin their title defence against Northern Districts at Saxton Oval in Nelson on October 28.

“I’m already very excited to get back out on the park this summer,” Lennox said.

“Off the back of a successful campaign last season, we’ll be aiming to play a brand that wins the trophy again.

“The schedule looks a little bit different for us this season — typically we’ve started off in New Plymouth.”

The Stags will have six home matches during the 10-round competition, with two each in Nelson, Napier and New Plymouth.

Their Pukekura Park fixtures come relatively late in the campaign, forming rounds six and seven before the competition moves towards its finals in Wellington later that month.

Both the Ford Trophy and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield finals will again be played at the Basin Reserve.

All four one-day matches at Pukekura Park will start at 10.30am and admission will be free.

The men’s and women’s Super Smash T20 draws were still to be released, with it not yet known whether Pukekura Park would feature.

NZC blacklisted the ground from hosting Super Smash double-headers in September 2024 because it did not meet required venue standards. It could not accommodate four teams in separate changing rooms, while its training facilities and media infrastructure were also considered inadequate.

However, it is understood NZC could move away from double-header matches this season without a broadcast deal in place, potentially opening the door for Super Smash cricket to return to Pukekura Park.

The Plunket Shield schedule was also still to be announced.