Hodge fires Wellington to victory

Australian import Brad Hodge struck seven sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 84 off 42 balls, which led Wellington to a six-wicket win against Auckland with an over to spare at Eden Park. Chasing Auckland's 175, Wellington lost opener Michael Pollard first ball, but were steadied by a 55-run stand for the second wicket between Matthew Taylor and Stephen Murdoch. They then lost three wickets in consecutive overs to slip to 64 for 4 in the 10th over, before Hodge had a match-winning 113-run stand with Luke Woodcock. Colin de Grandhomme conceded 38 runs in two wicketless overs.

Auckland had also lost an opener - Martin Guptill - to the first ball of their innings, and then lost Rob Nicol four deliveries later, before they had scored. Colin Munro hit six sixes in his 52 off 24 balls, which helped give the innings direction, and middle-order contributions steered the total to 175 for 7. Luke Fletcher took 2 for 28 for Wellington, while James Franklin took 2 for 9 in two overs.