'From 51/3 to 65 all-out' - Green Pitch in Plunket Shield stuns the cricket fraternity

In the gentleman’s game that favours batsman a little more, it has always been fascinating to see the Test pitches of New Zealand which provide a feast to the bowlers, especially the seamers. The astonishing pictures of the extraordinary green pitch, that needs to be seen to be believed, from Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand have been the focal point for the cricket fraternity.

The New Zealand cricket board resumed domestic cricket in the country with the 2020-21 edition of the Plunket Shield Trophy, which will run from October 19, 2020 to April 3, 2021. In the second fixture of Plunket Shield, the Wellington Firebirds are up against Canterbury for a match from October 19 to October 22.

As the pictures of Day 1 of the match went viral on social media, the cricket fans were left gobsmacked with the amount of green grass that was present on the field. The pitch looked green and one could be forgiven if they think it was just an extension of the rest of the ground. It is a bowlers’ dream pitch as there is nothing that can help the batsmen score runs.

In normal conditions, the captain winning the toss in the longest format of the game opts to bat first, however on a surface like this it is favorable to field first as the pitch is expected to get better for the batters as the match progresses. Thus, as expected after winning the toss, Canterbury opted to field first.

Game between Canterbury and Wellington Firebirds

Batting first, Wellington managed to post only 65 runs on the board in the first innings. The team had a decent start as they were reeling at a score of 51/3 in the 21.3 overs. However, there was a sudden collapse of their batting line-up as Firebirds lost their next seven wickets within 13 overs with just 14 more runs added on the scoreboard. However, looking at the condition of the pitch, one can say that 65 is a par score.

Wellington batsmen experienced a nightmare while batting on the pitch but the same cannot be said for Canterbury as they are cruising at 148/5 in the first innings at stumps on the second day.

Here’s how Twitter reacted

This is from New Zealand's Plunket Shield, where the pitch is *allegedly* the middle strip. Imagine getting to bowl on that 🤤 pic.twitter.com/oOY5gfCS1s

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) October 19, 2020

In New Zealand’s Plunket Shield, Canterbury have just bowled out Wellington for 65. Looking at the pitch, that’s probably about par… pic.twitter.com/5lFvdQTMXp

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 19, 2020

No point nudging them round then🏌️💣

— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) October 20, 2020

Curator did his major in golf course maintenance. Just saying

— Ray Cornelius (@rayoutwest) October 20, 2020

When the wicket is greener that the outfield, you win the toss and ask to bowl in all four innings!

— Braedyn Smith #ValeKanga (@BraedynSmith) October 20, 2020

When all 4 innings get bowled in one day

— brady hall (@bradyhall5) October 20, 2020

That pitch needs more grass 😂

— Francis J. Burdon (@frank_burdon) October 20, 2020