The New Zealand Under-23 cricket team played 12 matches of first-class cricket in New Zealand between the 1962–63 season and the 1980–81 season.[1]
History
The New Zealand Under-23s played a first-class match against a Plunket Shield team at the end of every season from 1962–63 to 1971–72, with the exception of 1967–68, when they did not play a first-class match, and 1969–70, when they played the touring Australian team. In 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1980–81, they played a Plunket Shield team early in the season, in December.
Central Districts v New Zealand Under-23s, Cook's Gardens, Wanganui, 24, 25, 27 February 1967. Central Districts 208 and 271 (John McIntyre 5 for 101); New Zealand Under-23s 140 and 126. Central Districts won by 213 runs.[6]
Auckland v New Zealand Under-23s, Eden Park, Auckland, 5, 7, 8 April 1969. Auckland 130 and 299 (Mark Burgess 115); New Zealand Under-23s 159 and 180 (Hedley Howarth 5 for 54). Auckland won by 90 runs.[7]
New Zealand Under-23s v Australians, McLean Park, Napier, 2, 3, 4 March 1970. New Zealand Under-23s 145 (Dennis Lillee 6 for 40) and 144; Australians 309 for 9 dec. Australians won by an innings and 20 runs.[8]
Auckland v New Zealand Under-23s, Cornwall Park, Auckland, Auckland, 7, 8, 9 February 1971. Auckland 274 for 8 dec. (Ross Morgan 102) and 212 for 6 dec.; New Zealand Under-23s 184 (Morgan 5 for 42) and 182. Auckland won by 120 runs.[9]
Otago v New Zealand Under-23s, Carisbrook, Dunedin, 4, 5, 6 February 1972. New Zealand Under-23s 159 (Gren Alabaster 5 for 51) and 117; Otago 336. Otago won by an innings and 60 runs.[10]
Auckland v New Zealand Under-23s, Cornwall Park, Auckland, 5, 6, 7 December 1976. Auckland 274 for 9 dec. and 233 for 3 dec.; New Zealand Under-23s 202 (Hedley Howarth 8 for 75) and 99. Auckland won by 206 runs.[11]
Otago v New Zealand Under-23s, Logan Park, Dunedin, 4, 5, 6 December 1977. Otago 313; New Zealand Under-23s 159 (Peter Petherick 6 for 44) and 202 for 3. Drawn.[12]
Canterbury v New Zealand Under-23s, Lancaster Park, Christchurch, 7, 9, 10 December 1980. New Zealand Under-23s 221 (David Stead 6 for 84) and 197 for 4; Canterbury 235. Drawn.[13]
New Zealand Under-23s also played a number of one-day and two-day matches against non-first-class provincial teams.[14]
Records
New Zealand Under-23s lost nine of their first-class matches and drew the other three. Their only century was Peter Truscott's 165 in 1963–64; their best bowling figures were Rodney Redmond's 6 for 56 in 1965–66.