But, having fallen behind the run rate early in their turn with the bat, CD must have rued what transpired when they had the ball in hand. After all, when the first hour left Auckland reeling at 34-4, a one-sided match seemed to await.
Doug Bracewell certainly did his bit to achieve that aim, striking in his third and fifth overs before finishing with figures out 4-44 from his allotment. But the resistance from Auckland soon arrived and, crucially for a side needing a score well in excess of 200, it arrived in fast fashion.
First it was Colin Munro, who smashed 10 boundaries and a six while compiling a quickfire 53 from 38 balls, falling in the 16th over with the score on 98. Then Colin de Grandhomme hit a run-a-ball 63, helping Auckland post a testing tally.
However testing it might have been, though, the presence of opening pair George Worker and Jamie How would have provided Central Districts confidence. Both men were in rude form for much of the one-day season, with Worker leading all scorers with 500 runs and How ranking ninth with 325.
But when the former was bowled by Matt Quinn for 13 and the latter trapped by Donovan Grobbelaar for 5, the home side's hopes suffered a real blow.
Half centuries from Will Young (56) and Dane Cleaver (66) helped boost those hopes but four wickets from Tarun Nethula ensured Auckland were able to close out the win.
It's a win that will see the one-day crown decided at Colin Maiden Park on Sunday, when the Aces will face either a rematch with Central Districts or an encounter against Otago.
The southerners yesterday kept alive their title hopes after a nervy win over Northern Districts in Queenstown, when they chased down the Knights' 245-8 with three wickets and four balls to spare.
In the end it was a pair of test bowlers who saw their side home with the bat, with Mark Craig (26no) and Neil Wagner (20no) combining for a composed 45-run partnership in the closing overs.
The pair's assistance was needed after several Otago batsmen made starts without being able to kick on for a match-winning score. Jesse Ryder led the home side with 52 from 54 before falling victim to Graeme Aldridge, while Jimmy Neesham (38) and Michael Bracewell (37) also saw promising knocks end too soon.
It was a similar story in the opening innings, when Daryl Mitchell (72) and Anton Devcich (52) plundered runs in the top order but were unable to alter the complexion of the match. Wagner starred in his more familiar role, taking 4-60 from his 10 overs, while Sam Wells and Bradley Scott each picked up a brace to limit ND to an attainable total.
