Cricket: Canterbury double to direct Auckland's fate

Ben Wheeler removed captain Rob Nicol and Anaru Kitchen for ducks in the opening over. Photo / NZME.

Back-to-back games against Canterbury this week will help decide whether Auckland make the domestic T20 playoffs.

Win them both and they'll be a big chance; lose one and they'll be battling.

After a weekend of mixed fortunes in Wellington, Auckland sit fourth in the Georgie Pie Super Smash, with just the top three teams making the final weekend showdown early next month.

Auckland's fate is still in their own hands but they cannot afford a slipup after a disappointing loss to Central Districts in the capital on Saturday.

The eight-wicket thumping of Wellington a day earlier was a distant memory as they were rolled for 90 by CD, who had put up 146 for seven.

From the time left-armer Ben Wheeler removed captain Rob Nicol and Anaru Kitchen for ducks in the opening over, Auckland were in a hole. Wheeler finished with four for eight off three impressive overs.

With Wellington having bounced back from their Friday night loss with wins over Canterbury, by 25 runs, and CD, by six wickets yesterday, they sit on 22 points, but with only one game remaining, against Otago.

Canterbury have 16 points, two more than Auckland, both having played seven games.

They clash at Christchurch on Thursday, and again in Napier two days later. Auckland finish their round robin against ND, also in Napier next Sunday.

ND, who played bottom side Otago in last night's later game, hold the whip hand for the top qualifying spot for the playoffs in Hamilton on December 5-7.

Points before last night's late game: ND 22 (7 games), Wellington 22 (9), Canterbury 16 (7), Auckland 14 (7), CD 10 (7), Otago 4 (7).