Auckland's international seamer Kyle Mills had a night to forget. With Somerset needing 20 off the last two overs, he leaked 15 runs in the penultimate over, and dropped two catches off his own bowling.
"In both games we were in thereright till the end," Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins said. "To fallshort is pretty gut-wrenching."
Auckland's results follow Otago losing both their games in the inaugural Champions League in 2009, and Central Districts losing all four last year. Collectively that is bad news for New Zealand's credibility. Indian officials are likely to continue taking a dim view of this country's domestic game.
Otago and CD's performances put Auckland into a qualifier, rather than directly into the main draw; Auckland's performances are not likely to change that situation next year.
Apart from Vincent, the pick of the team was left armer Michael Bates. Having taken one for 13 from his four overs against Kolkata, he took two for 13 from four, with a maiden to boot.
The Plunket Shield competition begins on November 7. Mills, Guptill, test seamer Chris Martin and left arm spinner Bruce Martin will join the New Zealand training camp at Lincoln on their return. The camp will run until next Thursday ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe, which starts on October 15.
* Swing bowler Tim Southee has pulled out of the Chennai Super Kings squad for the Champions League proper with a knee injury.
