Northland First XI bowed out of their final 50-Over Brian Dunning Trophy match, losing to Counties by just seven runs.
The Weymouth pitch was in excellent shape for Sunday's match and the Counties batsmen put it to good use, batting first, with Tamati Clarke scoring a stunning 147 not out.
Counties reached 282 for the loss of seven wickets. Matthew Taylor grabbed 3-48 from his 10 overs, Tom Herman took 3-55 and Northern Knights' James Marshall had 1-27.
Steven Knox (71) and Knights' batsman Brad Wilson (58) put on a partnership of 111 for the first wicket for Northland while Joey Yovich (47 not out), Ben Hyde (38), Henry Cooper (37) all chipped in for a total of 275/6, but Northland were just behind the strike rate throughout their innings, Knox said.
The Knights' Brent Arnel (3-31) bowled the last two overs for Counties in which Northland made just six runs, and Counties secured the victory.
The Northland First XI have two Fergus Hickey two day matches left to play this season, on February 18-19 against Counties in Whangarei, and on March 2-3 against Waikato Valley, in Cambridge.
The Northland Second XI also travelled to Weymouth for a 50-over friendly against Taranaki B, which Northland won comfortably by 50 runs.
