Auckland suffered their first loss of the one-day competition yesterday but remain top of the points table.
They were well beaten by Northern Districts in the third round of the Ford Trophy at Seddon Park in Hamilton, but courtesy of bagging bonus point wins over ND and Central Districts intheir first two matches, still hold a one-point advantage over ND.
This is the first round in which the players going to the world T20 tournament in Bangladesh have been absent and Auckland felt it.
ND still have test-only wicketkeeper BJ Watling, and his unbeaten 97 was instrumental in his team making 257 for five. Auckland managed just 147, with only captain Gareth Hopkins and Donovan Grobbelaar reaching 20.
Canterbury romped to a 10-wicket win over CD in Christchurch. The visitors were rolled for just 94 in 19.1 overs, as Andrew Ellis achieved his best one-day figures, five for 17.
In the tightest match, Wellington got their first win off the last ball against Otago in the capital. Wellington reached 308 for five, Michael Papps (98) and Steven Murdoch (89) adding 144 for the first wicket. Otago needed three off the final ball but Sam Wells (50) was instead dismissed. Earlier Aaron Redmond (96) and Mark Bracewell (60) shared an Otago second wicket record 155.
In fourth round games on Wednesday, Auckland host CD at Eden Park; Otago play Canterbury in Dunedin and Wellington face ND in the capital.
New Zealand completed a clean sweep against the West Indies, winning the final T20 women's international in Mt Maunganui by 34 runs.
