Auckland chased down a big target of target of 169 runs, courtesy a brilliant knock from Martin Guptill who struck 79* off 58 in a thriller against Central Districts.
Auckland didn’t have a great start to the chase and were reduced to 34/3 before Guptill and captain Robert ODonnell provided the resistance with a partnership of 70 runs for the fourth wicket. Robert ODonnell was eventually out for 34 off 26 but Guptill continued with his stroke play.
Later, Guptill was joined by Ben Home and the two batters chipped in with a 30-run stand for the sixth wicket. Home scored a brisk 27 off 9 as Auckland eventually went over the line.
Earlier, in the day, Central Districts had a decent start as openers Bayley Wiggins and Greg Hay scored 59 runs for the first wicket. Wiggins was then dismissed for 37 off 25 but Hay notched up a fifty. He was then joined by Cleaver and the two batters scored 68 runs for the second before Hay was sent back for 57.
The Central Districts side then lost a few wickets at regular intervals but put up a decent score of 168/5 in 20 overs on the board. Lockie Ferguson returned with figures of 2/24 in 4 overs while Adithya Ashok picked up one wicket for 24 runs in 4 overs for the side.