Central Districts opener Curtis Heaphy continued his stellar first-class form with twin match-saving half-centuries against Otago in the latest round of the Plunket Shield.
Three hundreds and two fifties in last four first-class matches for Curtis Heaphy
Heaphy has been in incredible touch in first-class cricket recently, having hit three centuries and two fifties in his last eight innings in the format. His commanding run started with a 190 for New Zealand A on their tour to South Africa in September this year.
The wicketkeeper-batter missed Central Districts’ opening game of the Plunket Shield this season due to a hamstring injury, which they lost, but returned to hit a 132 against Wellington in a successful 361-run chase. He then set up a massive 295-run victory for his side with a first-innings 119 against Canterbury to make it three hundreds in three first-class games.
Odds were stacked against the Central Districts after Otago posted a hefty first-innings total of 416-7 and reduced them to 21-2. But Heaphy, opening the innings, dug deep and added 155 runs with Dean Foxcroft (94) for the third wicket. The stand was followed by a monumental collapse, however.
Central Districts lost their next six wickets for just 17 runs, with Heaphy being the ninth dismissal after scoring a fighting 65 off 150. They were all out for 224 and were then invited to follow on by Otago.
Match 12, Otago Volts vs Central Stags
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A herculean batting effort from the team followed, with Heaphy himself scoring a 226-ball 81. Brad Schmulian (78) and Dane Cleaver (93) also scored half-centuries as Central Districts managed to hold on for a draw by the end of the fourth day’s play.
With the 65 and 81 against Otago, Heaphy took his aggregate over the last four first-class matches to 622 runs. He is also currently fourth on the list of the top run-getters in the 2025/26 Plunket Shield season, with 419 runs in three matches at 69.83.
The highly rated wicketkeeper-batter had also started the Ford Trophy strongly. After a 35 in the first game against Wellington, he was his side’s lone warrior in an unsuccessful run chase against Northern Districts with a 58, but was forced to retire hurt after pulling a hamstring, which kept him out of the remainder of the first half of the List-A competition and the first Plunket Shield match.
Heaphy is yet to play international cricket, but if he keeps churning runs at this rate, that might change soon.
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