Auckland were down to a limp in their two-wicket win over Wellington in the capital yesterday but have rocketed clear at the top of the State Shield one-day cricket standings.
Defending champion Auckland's fifth win in six matches puts them five points clear of the field with fourrounds remaining.
Victory over second-placed Otago in Dunedin on Sunday would leave them hard to displace as the top-qualifying automatic finalists.
They were in control for long periods at the Basin Reserve but the loss of six wickets for 51 runs threatened to derail their run chase.
Small but crucial unbeaten knocks from Dave Houpapa (12) and Roneel Hira (9) saw them compile the last 12 runs needed to reach 248 for eight with nine balls remaining.
Wellington, who started slowly but accelerated well in their 247 for eight, nearly snatched an unlikely win through the efforts of allrounders Graham Napier and Grant Elliott.
Essex professional Graham Napier took four for 42 from nine overs and South African Grant Elliott three for 41 from 8.3 as Auckland stuttered from a position of strength at 175 for two.
A later anchor role from Rob Nicol ended at 51 when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Elliott.
New batsman Andre Adams' subsequent three-ball innings comprised two sixes and his removal caught on the boundary before their the ninth-wicket duo saw Auckland home.
The visitors got away to a 100-run opening stand between Martin Guptill (33) and Lou Vincent, dominated by Vincent's 72 off 63 balls.
Earlier, Stephen Fleming controlled the pace of the Wellington innings with 87 off 116 balls, including four sixes.
However, Napier was the only other Wellington batsman to go past 30 in good batting conditions, with a hard-hit 40.
