List of New Zealand first-class cricket records


This is a list of New Zealand first-class cricket records; that is, record team and individual performances in first-class cricket for Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Otago, and Wellington, teams representing New Zealand, both in New Zealand and overseas, and other first-class teams in New Zealand.

Team records

Highest innings total

AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
693-9d v 1939/40777 v 1996/97594-8d v 1995/96726 v 2009/10651-9d v 2012/13614–8 v 2006/07
662/5 v 2008/09613-7d v 2006/07549-8d v 1998/99614–7 v 2012/13624 v 2006/07608-9d v 1998/99
658-9d v 2012/13559 v 1993/94542-4d v 2002/03608–9 v 2011/12602-8d v 1928/29595 v 1927/28

Lowest innings totals

AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
13 v 1877/7825 v 1886/8750 v 1979/8032 v 1996/9734 v 1956/5719 v 1885/86
48 v 1889/9027 v 1896/8751 v 1957/5852 v 1966/6735 v 1884/8522 v 1903/04
48 v 1889/9032 v 1866/6759 v 1958/5957 v 1961/6236 v 1889/9029 v 1879/80

Note: =Nelson, =New South Wales

Highest fourth innings totals

495lost by 145 runsOtago v WellingtonDunedin1923/24
475–4wonWellington v CanterburyChristchurch1994/95
473–6wonCanterbury v AucklandChristchurch1930/31
458lost by 276 runsAuckland v WellingtonWellington1927/28
453–8wonNorthern Districts v WellingtonWellington1995/96
451lost by 98 runsNew Zealand v EnglandChristchurch2001/02
450/7wonCentral Districts v CanterburyNew Plymouth2008/09

Largest victories

By an innings and

Victory by 1 wicket

most recent
1st Innings2nd & 3rd Innings4th InningsWinner
Canterbury 392Auckland 180 & 302Canterbury 84Auckland by 6 runsat Auckland1952/53
Otago 320-9dNorthern Districts 165 & 275Otago 105ND by 15 runsat Dunedin1961/62
Northern Districts 224Auckland 69 & 303Northern Districts 140Auckland by 8 runsat Auckland1963/64
Auckland 351-9dCanterbury 166 & 360Auckland 149Canterbury by 26 runsat Christchurch1973/74
Otago 268Auckland 101 & 278Otago 108Auckland by 3 runsat Dunedin2004/05

Batting records

Most matches, most runs, most centuries, highest average: for a province

Players in bold are still active.
Most MatchesMost RunsMost CenturiesHighest Average†
J.A.H. Marshall 12M.S. Sinclair 13717M.S. Sinclair 27G.A. Hick 79.03
E.J. Gray 120P.G. Fulton 8719C.D. Cumming 21M.D. Crowe 68.72
J.A.F. Yovich 120M.H.W. Papps 6663M.D. Bell 20V.J. Scott 60.10
R.H. Vance 119C.D. Cumming 6589M.H.W. Papps 19B. Sutcliffe 59.09
M.S. Sinclair 119M.D. Bell 6565D.R. Flynn 19C.Z. Harris 57.89
G.W. Aldridge 119B. A. Edgar 6494B. Sutcliffe 17C. Munro 58.23
L.J. Woodcock 126R.H. Vance 6440P.J. Ingram 17A.H. Jones 53.17
G.E. Bradburn 115J.A.H Marshall 6418T.G. McIntosh 17C.F.K. van Wyk 52.85
J.S. Patel 118L.J. Woodcock 6701B.A. Edgar 15J.G. Myburgh 51.71
P.G. Fulton 121B. Sutcliffe 6028P.G. Fulton 16M.S. Sinclair 51.68

AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
290 W.N. Carson v 1936/37301* P.G. Fulton v 2002/03247 P.J. Ingram v 2008/09334 D. Brownlie v 2014/15385 B. Sutcliffe327* D.P. Conway v 2019/20
269* C. Munro v 2012/13261 T.W.M. Latham v 2013/14245* P.J. Ingram v 2009/10284* K.S. Williamson v 2011/12355 B. Sutcliffe316* M.H.W. Papps v 2017/18
268 T. McIntosh v 2007/08251* C.Z. Harris v 1996/97243* M.S. Sinclair v 2007/08241 D.R. Flynn v 2010/11338* R.C.Blunt296 J.R. Reid v 1962/63

Highest partnerships

First wicket
Second wicket
Third wicket
Fourth wicket
Fifth wicket
Sixth wicket
Seventh wicket
Eighth wicket
Ninth wicket
Tenth wicket
AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
1st286 B. Sutcliffe & D.D. Taylor v 1948/49306 L.A.Cuff & J.D. Lawrence v 1893/94428 P.J. Ingram & J.M. How, v 2009/10274 B.S. Wilson & B.J. Watling v 2010/11373 B. Sutcliffe & L. Watt v 1950/51432 M.H.W. Papps & L.J. Woodcock v 2017/18
2nd241 T.J. Franklin & J.J. Crowe v 1988/89243 M.H.W. Papps & J.G. Myburgh v 2007/08317 R.T Hart & P.S. Briasco v 1983/84301 D.R. Flynn & B.S. Wilson v 2012/13254 K.J. Burns & K.R. Rutherford v 1987/88287 M.D. Bell & J.D. Wells v 1997/98
3rd445 P.E. Whitelaw & W.N. Carson v 1936/37394* P.G. Kennedy & R.T. Latham v 1990/91264 P.J.Ingram & M.S. Sinclair v 2008/09261* M.P. Maynard & S.A. Thomson v 1990/91306 S.B. Haig v N.T. Broom 2009/10346 G.P. Burnett v R.A. Verry 1991/92
4th280 J.J. Crowe & D.N. Patel v 1991/92278 M.L. Page & A.W. Roberts v 1931/32276* M.D. Crowe & P.S. Briasco v 1986/87283 D.R. Flynn & C.J. Anderson v 2012/13235 K.J. Burns & R.N. Hoskin v 1987/88310 J.D. Ryder & N.R. Parlane v 2004/05
5th347* M.J. Horne & A.C. Barnes v 2003/04290 G.R. Stead & C.Z. Harris v 1996/97301 J.I Englefield & R.L. Taylor v 2004/05155* J.A.H. Marshall & N.K.W. Horsley v 2005/06266 B. Sutcliffe & W.S. Haig v 1952/53341 G.R. Larsen & E.B. McSweeney 1987/88
6th377 C. Munro & Craig Cachopa, v 2012/13379* S.L. Stewart & C.F.K. van Wyk v 2009/10235 M.S. Sinclair & B.B.J. Griggs v 2008/09322 M.G. Orchard & J.A.F. Yovich v 2005/06216 H.D. Rutherford & D.C. de Boorder v 2011/12226 E.J. Gray & R.W. Ormiston v 1981/82
7th224 V.J. Scott & A.M. Matheson v 1937/38265 J.L. Powell & N. Dorreen v 1929/30219 B.W. Yuile & B.L. Hampton v 1967/68136 D.J. Nash & A.R. Tait v 1997/98182 B. Sutcliffe & A.W. Gilbertson v 1952/53250 C.J. Nevin & M.D.J. Walker v 2003/04
8th189 W.N. Carson & A.M. Matheson v 1938/39220 P.J. Wiseman & B.C. Hiini v 2005/06173 I.D.S. Smith & G.K. Robertson v 192/83163 P.D. McGlashan & G.W. Aldrige v 2008/09165* J.N. Crawford & A.G. Eckhold v 1914/15180 R.G. Twose & M.C. Goodson v 1994/95
9th151 R.A. Young & G.J. Morgan v 2007/08182* L.K. Germon & R.M. Ford v 1989/90239 H.B. Cave & I.B. Leggat v 1952/53188 N.R. Parlane & D.R. Tuffey v 1999/00208 W.C. McSkimming & B.E. Scott v 2004/05225 L.J. Woodcock & M.J. Tugaga v 2009/10
10th119 W.N. Carson & J. Cowie v 1937/38160 L.K. Germon & W.A. Wisneski v 1997/98133 G.A Bartlett & I.A. Colquuhoun v 1959/60113* P.D. McGlashan & G.W. Aldridge v 2005/06184 R.C. Blunt & W. Hawksworth v 1931/32138 K.C. James & A.W.S. Brice v 1926/27

Most runs and highest average in a season

Note: =England, =Victoria, =Pakistan =Australia =New South Wales =South Africa =Wellington
† more than 500 runs

Most centuries in a season

Most runs in a career

Most of the players on this list scored a lot of their runs for overseas teams. Where this is the case the number of runs and the names of the teams are included. Players in bold are still active.
MInnNOHSRunsAve100s
G.M.Turner455792101311*3434649.7010322298 runs for Worcestershire
J.G.Wright366636441922507342.355910638 runs for Derbyshire
M.D. Crowe247412622991960856.02713948 runs for Somerset
B. Sutcliffe233407393851744747.4144
G.P.Howarth338584421831729431.90329284 runs for Surrey
J.R. Reid246418282961612841.3539
S.P.Fleming24740632274*1640943.87354390 runs for Middlesex, Nottinghamshire & Yorkshire
D.N.Patel358558512041518829.95269734 runs for Worcestershire
K.R. Rutherford220383333171397439.92353026 runs for Gauteng & Transvaal
M.S. Sinclair188319372681371748.6436
B.E. Congdon24141640202*1310134.8423
C.M. Spearman201360163411302137.85306970 runs for Gloucestershire
H.J.H. Marshall264434291701482036.59317000+ runs for Gloucestershire
R.E. Hitchcock32351971153*1247327.841312269 runs for Warwickshire
M.H.W Papps18834426316*1229438.6633-
C.C.R. Dacre269439202231223029.18248271 runs for Gloucestershire
C.S. Dempster184306362121214544.98354659 runs for Leicestershire
R.J. Hadlee34247393210*1205231.71146014 runs for Nottinghamshire & Tasmania

Best average in a career

Qualification: More than 3000 runs. Players in bold are still active.
MatchesInningsNot OutHigh ScoreRunsAverage
M.D. Crowe247412622991960856.02
C. Munro46714281352952.67
V.J. Scott8013017204562049.73
G.M.Turner455792101311*3434649.70
K.S. Williamson12321217284951648.80
M.S. Sinclair188319372681371748.64
M.P. Donelly13122126208*925047.60
B. Sutcliffe223407393851744747.41
C.Z. Harris13120442251*737745.53
C.S. Dempster184306362121214544.98

Redpath Cup – Won most times

The Redpath Cup is awarded to the best batsman in a season for performances in first-class cricket.

Most wickets for one province

MatchesWicketsRunsAverage5WI10WMBest in InningsBest in Match
E.J. ChatfieldWellington84403753118.682378–2413–86
S.L. BoockOtago88399823520.632878–5715–104
D.R. O'SullivanCentral Districts90392956024.382136–4010–80
E.J. GrayWellington120357977827.381338–3714–151
G.W. AldridgeNorthern Districts1193551005228.321416-4111-145
M.R. GillespieWellington82344938927.291626–3811-148
H.J. HowarthAuckland80332736122.171848–7514–94
R.W. BlairWellington59330500415.1630109–7214–136
M.W. PriestCanterbury88290850129.311239–9512–162
A.D. DownesOtago44287390213.5933138–3514–103
R.J. HadleeCanterbury62285460016.141927–4912–81
A.M. MoirOtago54282592621.012058–3715–203
C.W. DickesonNorthern Districts90282824229.22927–7911–142

Best bowling in a match

AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
14–63 A.W. Rees v 1889/8915–60 S.T. Callaway v 1903/0413–64 H.B. Cave v 1952/5316–130 A.R. Tait v 1996/9715–94 F.H. Cooke v 1882/8314–136 R.W. Blair v 1956/57
14–65 J.A. Hayes v 1957/5815–168 D.J. McBeath v 1918/1911–99 D.D. Beard v 1956/5713–99 R.P. de Groen v 1992/9315–104 S.L. Boock v 1989/9014–151 E.J. Gray v 1985/86
14–94 H.J. Howarth v 1973/7414–59 R.J. Read v 1920/2111–115 M.J. Mason v 2002/0312–55 B.P. Martin v 1999/0015–203 A.M. Moir v 1953/5413–58 I.J. Salmon v 1873/74

Note: =Hawkes Bay, =Southland, =Nelson

Four Wickets with Consecutive Balls

†Wagner took five wickets in one over.

Hat Tricks

Best bowling in an innings

AucklandCanterburyCentral DistrictsNorthern DistrictsOtagoWellington
9–36 A.F. Wensley v 1929/3010–28 A.E. Moss v 1889/909–100 B.W. Yuile v 1965/669–48 A.R. Tait v 1996/979–50 A.H. Fisher v 1896/979–67 A.W.S. Brice v 1918/19
9–75 R. Neill v 1891/929–13 P.J. Wiseman v 1996/977–28 B.W. Yuile v 1967/688–21 M.C. Langdon v 1963/649–72 F.H. Cooke v 1884/859–72 R.W. Blair v 1956/57
9–86 R. Neill v 1897/989–56 D.J. McBeath v 1918/197–31 H.B. Cave v 1952/538–27 T.G. Southee v 2009/109–93 P.J. Petherick v 1975/769–75 R.W. Blair v 1956/57

Note =Queensland, =NZ under 23 XI

Most wickets in a season

MatchesWicketsRunsAve5WI10WMBest
S.L. Boock1977/781366108816.48607–57
R.J. Hadlee1986/87116293515.08817–79
R.J. Hadlee1981/82105986714.69706–26
S.L. Boock1978/791258123821.34418–59
G.J. Thompson1902/0375766811.71638–124
S.L. Boock1986/87105592016.72616–62
S.T. Calloway1903/045544748.77848–33
R.W. Blair1956/5785378414.79649–72
A.R. Tait1996/9795386516.32419–48
C.J. Drum2001/0295382715.60326–34
C.S. Martin2003/041253114421.58616–76

Most wickets in a career

Most of the players high on this list took a lot of their wickets for overseas teams. Where this is the case the number of wickets and the names of the teams are included.
MWktsRunsAve-
R.J. Hadlee34214902699818.11622 wickets for Nottinghamshire, 13 for Tasmania
C.V. Grimmett †24814243174022.111402 wickets for various Australian teams
S.G. Smith ‡2119551727218.08502 wickets for Northamptonshire, 190 for West Indian teams
T.L. Pritchard2008181906223.30695 wickets for Warwickshire
J.S. Patel2436982414834.59300+ wickets for Warwickshire
A.R. Adams1736921657723.95400+ wickets for Nottinghamshire & Essex
D.N. Patel3586542173733.23357 wickets for Worcestershire
C.L. Cairns2176471832228.31241 wickets for Nottinghamshire
S.L. Boock1646401431422.36
C.S. Martin1925991907031.83
E.J. Chatfield1575871342922.87
N. Wagner1375681547327.24
D.L. Vettori1745651798131.82
J.V. Saunders §1075531206521.81472 wickets for various Australian teams
R.W. Blair119537996118.54
W.E. Merritt1255361366925.50151 wickets for Northamptonshire
R.O. Collinge1635241279324.41
D.R. O'Sullivan1365231355425.9184 wickets for Hampshire
J.G. Bracewell1495221391926.66
R.C. Motz1425181176922.72
J.C. Alabaster1435001268825.37

†Grimmett was born in Dunedin, grew up in NZ, played the first 9 matches of his career for Wellington, and then moved to Australia.
‡Smith was born in Trinidad, played for West Indian teams for the first 5 years of his career, then played for Northamptonshire and West Indian teams for 10 years, and finally played for NZ teams for the last 12 years of his career. Died in Auckland.
§ Saunders was born in Melbourne. Played for Australian teams from 1899 to 1910. Played for Wellington for the last 5 years of his career. Played 1 match for NZ. Died in Melbourne.

Best average in a career

Qualification: More than 200 wickets.
MatchesWicketsRunsAverageCareer
A.D. Downes51311456414.671888/89-1913/14
E.F. Upham49265441416.651892/93-1909/10
S.T.Callaway62320546017.061888/89-1906/07
S.G. Smith2119551727218.081899/00-1925/26
R.J. Hadlee34214902699818.111971/72-1990
R.W. Blair119537996118.541951/52-1964/65
J.H. Bennett52241447618.581898/99-1919/20

Winsor Cup – Won most times

The Winsor Cup is awarded to the best bowler in a season for performances in first-class cricket.

A century and 5 wickets twice in the same match

Most recent
Most times
RunsAveWktsAve
J.R. Reid1954/5550538.843016.53
J.T. Sparling1959/6070537.113619.50
J.R. Reid1960/6154934.313714.78
V. Pollard1967/6853731.583124.74
B.R. Taylor1968/6951839.843028.06
B.L. Cairns1975/7653841.382725.66
R.J. Hadlee1981/8250033.335914.69
V.R. Brown1984/8554038.573131.35
E.J. Gray1985/8654549.543422.00
M.W. Priest1988/8960343.072840.14
G.E. Bradburn1989/9084238.273030.93
D.N. Patel1991/9267952.234128.09
S.W. Duff1991/9255946.582827.64
S.B. Styris2001/0266244.132817.03
P.J. Wiseman2003/0453538.213131.00
C. de Grandhomme2013/1462948.383020.80
A.M. Ellis2014/1585353.312932.93
A.M. Ellis2015/1651837.003318.57
A.M. Ellis2016/1765240.75.002724.59
T.D. Astle2016/1752237.283126.87

2000 runs and 150 wickets for a province

RunsBat AveWicketsBowl Ave
AucklandJ.T. Sparling297728.0824821.47
AucklandD.N. Patel364839.2218423.35
CanterburyD. Reese206625.5016818.09
CanterburyD.W. Stead316925.9716729.99
CanterburyV.R. Brown287228.7215927.62
CanterburyR.J. Hadlee201225.7928516.14
CanterburyM.W. Priest345731.7129019.38
CanterburyT.D. Astle388927.1928731.44
Central DistrictsB.W. Yuile219027.3723329.31
Central DistrictsS.W. Duff307930.7920832.96
Northern DistrictsG.E. Bradburn461427.9623131.61
Northern DistrictsJ.A.F Yovich483930.2425533.64
Northern DistrictsG.W. Aldridge232720.2335528.31
WellingtonH.M. McGirr303232.6016626.06
WellingtonJ.R. Reid453848.2717218.11
WellingtonE.J. Gray422829.5635727.38
CanterburyA.M. Ellis497237.1023728.76
WellingtonJ.E.C. Franklin459544.1820624.77

No player has scored 2000 runs and taken 150 wickets for Otago

3750 runs and 375 wickets in a career

Players in bold still active
MatchesRunsBat Ave100sWicketsBowl Ave5WI
J.R. Reid2461612841.353946622.6015
R.J. Hadlee3421205231.7114149018.11102
S.G. Smith2111092031.281495518.0871
J.E.C. Franklin202968636.002247628.1814
C.L. Cairns2171070235.321364728.3130
B.W. Yuile123385024.67137521.8917
E.J. Gray162547228.80644428.2016
B.R. Taylor141457924.75442225.1315
C.V. Grimmett248472017.670142418.11127
J.G. Bracewell149435425.91452226.6633
D.L. Vettori174669529.62956531.8233
A.R. Adams173454021.31369223.9532
D.N. Patel3581518829.952665433.2327
B.L. Cairns148416520.72147326.5224
J.S. Patel243551522.51269834.5925
P.J. Wiseman186425420.95246633.7418

The order of the players on this list is determined by: Batting average minus Bowling average. The greater the positive difference, the higher he is on the list.

Wicket keeping records

Most dismissals for one province

MatchesCaughtStumpedTotal
E.B. McSweeneyWellington10228939328
C.J. NevinWellington1062899298
R.A. YoungAuckland972455250
W.K. LeesOtago10820836244
R.G. HartNorthern Districts8522836243
L.K. GermonCanterbury7621721238
B.B.J. GriggsCentral Districts822257232
D.C. de BoorderOtago6119616212
B.A. YoungNorthern Districts9317911190
P.D. McGlashanNorthern Districts5917512187
B.D. MilburnOtago6014817165
J.T. WardCanterbury5413617153
P.J. KellyAuckland4814012152
G.J. HopkinsAuckland431434147

Most dismissals in a match

CatchesStumpingsTotalat
12012P.D. McGlashanNorthern Districts v Central DistrictsWhangarei2009/10
10010C.J. NevinWellimgton v OtagoWellington1995/96
10010A.C. GilchristAustralia v NZHamilton1999/00
10010G.J. HopkinsOtago v CanterburyDunedin2004/05
8210G.J. HopkinsNew Zealand A v Sri Lanka AKandy2005/06
9110B.B. McCullumNew Zealand v South African Invitation XIBloemfontein2007/08
9110D.C. De BoorderOtago v WellingtonWellington2009/10

There are 8 instances of 9 dismissals in a match.

Most dismissals in an innings

CatchesStumpingsTotalat
808D.C. De BoorderOtago v WellimgtonWellington2009/10
707R.M. SchofieldCentral Districts v WellimgtonWellington1964/65
707Wasim BariPakistan v NZAuckland1978/79
707B.A. YoungNorthern District v CanterburyChristchurch1986/87
707I.D.S. SmithNZ v Sri LankaHamilton1990/91
707M.G. CroyOtago v AucklandAuckland2001/02
707G.J. HopkinsNew Zealand A v South Africa ACenturion2004/05
527G.J. HopkinsNew Zealand A v Sri Lanka AKandy2005/06
707B.B.J. GriggsNorthern Districts v Central DistrictsHamilton2007/08

There are 15 instances of 6 dismissals in an innings.

Most dismissals in a season

Players in bold are still active.
MatchesCaughtStumpedTotal
G.J. Hopkins15842926455
I.D.S. Smith17839036426
K.C. James †204310112422
C.F.K. van Wyk12737119390
E.B. McSweeney12134045385
A.C. Parore16335824382
W.K. Lees14629244336
R.A. Young1263155320
R.G. Hart11029817315
C.J. Nevin1122999308
L. Ronchi7828313296
K.J. Wadsworth11825626282
L.K. Germon10325626282
B.B. McCullum12425919278

Fielding records

Most catches in a match

Most recent