Henry Nicholls makes back-to-back centuries in Plunket Shield match for Canterbury

Friday, 28 November 2025

Black Caps star Kane Williamson has announced his retirement from Twenty20 international cricket.

New Zealand’s red-hot red-ball batter won’t be in the test side for the first match against the West Indies.

Henry Nicholls made his second century of the game for Canterbury against Otago on Friday in the Plunket Shield, continuing his stunning early-season domestic form.

The 34-year-old, who played for the Black Caps in their most recent test series in Zimbabwe in August, was omitted from the squad for the first test starting in his home town of Christchurch on Tuesday.

That was chiefly because skipper Tom Latham and Kane Williamson are available again, after not playing in the 2-0 series triumph.

But Nicholls, who has made 10 test tons, kept up the pressure on those yet to start the three-test series when making an unbeaten 109 from just 119 balls on day three in Dunedin, after contributing 111 in Canterbury’s first dig.

The left-hander has also made two tons in the one-day Ford Trophy competition.

Earlier in the day in Dunedin, Glenn Phillips had no arguments when missing out on what would have been the second remarkable family double of the fledgling Shield season.

The Black Caps allrounder was dismissed six runs short of a century for Otago.

In Mt Maunganui, older brother Dale Phillips notched up his ninth first-class ton - and first for Auckland - as they continued to apply heavy pressure to hosts Northern Districts.

The opener made 107 from 177 balls - featuring eight fours and two sixes - as the visitors amassed 354-5 declared in their second innings.

In round one of the Plunket Shield, brothers Jack and Matt Boyle made centuries for Otago and Canterbury respectively.

Glenn Phillips had got to 94 from 128 deliveries at the University of Otago Oval before being trapped lbw by Black Caps leggie Ish Sodhi. Phillips knew he’d been beaten and was off to the pavilion before the umpire had raised his finger.

Henry Nicholls made centuries in both innings for Canterbury versus Otago in their Plunket Shield at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin.

The 28-year-old struck six sixes and five fours and is now likely to come into selection consideration for New Zealand for the second test against the West Indies in Wellington. Phillips was left out of the first test squad as he continued to prove his red-ball fitness after returning to action in the opening Shield round from a long-term groin injury.

Phillips also wheeled his way through 51.2 overs of off-spin during Canterbury’s two bats, capturing four wickets, while Sodhi backed up his maiden first-class century with 4-110 in Otago’s first innings.

Canterbury’s second innings declaration left the hosts needing to score 383 to win, and Otago were 18 without loss at stumps.

At Bay Oval, Auckland set ND a target of 510 from four sessions and the hosts got to stumps at 99-0, with Kane Williamson poised to bat on Saturday in his last knock before the test series starts.

In Wellington, home team batter Gareth Severin registered his fourth first-class ton as the Firebirds made 354-9 declared after rain limited their progress batting first on Wednesday and Thursday.

Severin made 104 from 224 balls, with 16 boundaries, as Black Caps seamer Blair Tickner pushed his case for a start in the first test on Tuesday by taking 4-68 from 21.3 overs.

However, Central Districts opener Will Young remains desperately short of runs after being dismissed for one from 16 deliveries, and it seems likely Devon Conway will be Tom Latham’s partner at the top of the order at Hagley Oval.

The visitors declared at 118-3 to encourage Wellington to give them a chase for outright points on the final day. The Firebirds took up the challenge, hurrying to 124-4 from 22 overs to lead by 360.

Plunket Shield Rd 2

At Dunedin: Canterbury 501-7 and 223-4 dec (Henry Nicholls 109 not out, Mitch Hay 43no) vs Otago 342 (Glenn Phillips 94, Luke Georgeson 59no, Jacob Cumming 41, Thorn Parkes 41; Ish Sodhi 4-110, Angus McKenzie 3-56) and 18-0.

At Wellington: Wellington 345-9 dec (Tim Robinson 108, Gareth Severin 104, Tom Blundell 42; Blair Tickner 4-68, Josh Clarkson 3-76) and 124-4 vs Central Districts 118-3 dec (Dean Foxcroft 58no, Brad Schmulian 38).

At Mt Maunganui: Auckland 307 and 354-5 dec (Dale Phillips 107, Harrish Kannan 78, Bevon Jacobs 66) vs Northern Districts 152 and 99-0 (Henry Cooper 57no, Jeet Raval 38no).