The Major Association team is the only female team to draw players from both the main islands of New Zealand.
Central Districts joined the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield for the 1979–80 season and finished fourth with one win and three draws.[2] In 1982–83, they finished second for the first time, behind Canterbury, who dominated the period.[3]
The Central Hinds won their first title in 2005–06 (when the one-day competition was named the State League), finishing second in the group stage before beating Canterbury in the final, helped by three wickets from Zara McWilliams and 55* from Sara McGlashan.[4][5] They were the runner-up in 2007–08 before winning their second one-day competition in 2009–10, with the final rained off and therefore winning the title as they had topped the group stage.[6][7] They also won their only Super Smash title the same season, beating Auckland in the final by eight wickets.[8]
The Central Hinds won their third one-day title in 2018–19, topping the group stage before beating the Auckland Hearts in a home final.[9] Central Hinds batter Natalie Dodd was the leading run-scorer in the competition, with 652 runs.[10]
Dodd and then-captain Anlo van Deventer set a New Zealand women's List A partnership record (all wickets) of 328 during the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, for the second wicket against the Otago Sparks at Fitzherbert Park on 3 March 2019.[11]
In December 2019, Dodd and Jess Watkin set a national first-wicket record in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, with a partnership of 216 at Karori Park, Wellington.[12]
The side were runners-up in the 2023–24 Super Smash, making the final for the first time since 2016. They lost to Wellington by one run (DLS) off the final ball of the match.[13]
Grounds
Central Districts' first primary home ground was Manawaroa Park, Palmerston North, with some matches played at Ongley Park in the same city.[14]
Since 2020–21, the Central Hinds have primarily used Pukekura Park, McLean Park, Fitzherbert Park and, since 2021–22, Saxton Oval, Nelson, and play both their home and away Super Smash matches as double-headers with the Central Stags.[14][15][16]
Players
Current squad
Based on contracted squad announced for the 2024-25 season.[17] Players in bold have international caps.
Players who have played for Central Districts and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):[18]
