ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2009

New Zealand in 2008/09 The 2008/09 first-class programme in New Zealand consisted of 33 matches, the fewest of any full ICC member with the exception of Zimbabwe. New Zealand hosted a two-Test series against West Indies (who also played one other first-class match), and at the end of the season three Tests were played against India. In addition, England ‘A’ played two first-class matches. Both Tests against West Indies were evenly contested draws. India, however, beat New Zealand one-nil to complete an unblemished record of three series wins out of three during the 2008/09 season. All 25 domestic first-class matches were in the State Championship, in which the six provincial teams played eight matches apiece. They played once against each other on a round-robin basis (five matches each), plus a further three matches against teams from the opposite end of the previous season’s table (so that Canterbury, for instance, who won the Championship in 2007/08, played their additional games against Otago, Northern Districts and Central Districts, who occupied the bottom three places in 2007/08). Of the 24 games in the league stage, half were drawn. Auckland, despite a defeat, headed the table and went on to win the final against second-placed Central Districts. State Championship 2008/09: Final table P W WLF L LWF DWF DLF ND Pts NetRpW 8 6 0 2 2 0 1 1 Auckland 8 4 0 1 0 2 0 1 37 11.576 2 Central Districts 8 3 1 0 0 0 3 1 31 0.528 3 Wellington 8 2 0 1 0 2 1 2 22 10.038 4 Northern Districts 8 2 0 4 0 1 1 0 18 -4.964 5 Otago 8 0 0 2 0 4 2 0 8 -8.446 6 Canterbury 8 0 0 3 1 1 3 0 4 -4.767 FINAL: AUCKLAND beat CENTRAL DISTRICTS by five wickets. 223