The Auckland ACES return to red-ball cricket this weekend, hosting Northern Districts in Round 5 of the Plunket Shield at Eden Park’s Kennards Hire Community Oval, with first ball at 10:30am on Saturday 28 February.

At the halfway stage of the competition, the ACES sit at the top of the table, holding a narrow one point lead over second-placed Canterbury and a two point advantage over third-placed Northern Districts. With margins tight and every session carrying weight, this shapes as a pivotal fixture in the context of the season.

Both sides transition from comparable Ford Trophy campaigns. The ACES come into the match off the back of a win in their final round robin fixture, while Northern Districts were beaten in theirs. With white-ball cricket now complete, full focus returns to the Plunket Shield and building momentum into the closing stages of the summer.

The Kennards Hire Community Oval has traditionally provided a sound batting surface, particularly early in matches, though at this stage of the season it has tended to offer assistance to spinners as the game progresses. Rain is forecast across the weekend, which could place added importance on first innings performance and session-by-session discipline.

The ACES will again look to Plunket Shield leading wicket taker Rohit Gulati to spearhead the attack. Gulati has been a consistent threat throughout the campaign, providing breakthroughs at key moments and control across long spells.

With just two points separating the top three sides, Round 5 presents a genuine opportunity for the ACES to consolidate their position at the summit, or for Northern Districts to close the gap.

The Auckland ACES take on Northern Districts in Round 5 of the Plunket Shield at Eden Park’s Kennards Hire Community Oval, with first ball at 10:30am on Saturday 28 February.

Match details:
Auckland ACES vs Northern Districts
Plunket Shield – Round 5
Saturday 28 February – Tuesday 3 March
10:30am start daily
Eden Park’s Kennards Hire Community Oval
Free entry

ACES unavailable due to injury: Jock McKenzie, Angus Olliver.

Article added: Thursday 26 February 2026