Fifties from Kane Williamson and Tim Southee helped Northern Districts beat Auckland by three wickets in Hamilton. Williamson's 92 and Southee's unbeaten 66 ensured that Northern reached the target with eight balls to spare. Northern were struggling at 84 for 4 before Williamson and Brad Wilson added 96 runs for the fifth wicket. Williamson's 92, scored off as many balls, included ten fours and two sixes.

A couple of quick wickets, following Williamson's dismissal, left Northern shaky at 201 for 7. But Tim Southee, who scored his first List-A fifty, and Graeme Aldridge stepped up. The duo blitzed their way to an unbeaten 93-run partnership off just 68 balls that took the team over the line. Southee smashed 66 off 45 balls and hit nine fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Auckland missed out on posting a big total after Tim McIntosh and Anaru Kitchen had put on an opening partnership of 136 runs in 25 overs. Kitchen scored a fluent 104 off 100 balls which included 13 fours and three sixes. However, the other Auckland batsmen failed to capitalise on a good start as Northern Districts restricted them to 290.

Canterbury crushed Otago and picked up a bonus point in their second match of the Ford Trophy in Christchurch. Canterbury bowler Matt Henry, making a return from injury, took his first List A five-wicket haul as Otago were dismissed for 177.

Otago, who chose to bowl first, started well as James McMillan dismissed opener Bradley Cachopa in the second over. Opener George Worker and Peter Fulton then consolidated the innings with an 85-run partnership setting the platform for a big total. The impetus for the innings came from Shanan Stewart and Andrew Ellis, who added 105 runs for the fifth wicket off 80 balls. Their partnership pushed Canterbury's score past 250. Canterbury eventually scored 283 for 7 off their 50 overs, leaving Otago a stiff target to chase.

Otago started the chase briskly but were soon staring at defeat. By the end of the 21st over, Otago were 89 for 6. Derek de Boorder, the captain, scored a stubborn 58 and his 49-run partnership with Ian Butler delayed the finish.

Michael Papps' second consecutive century couldn't save Wellington from a 10-run loss to Central Districts at the Basin Reserve, Wellington. Papps scored 154 and played a lone hand - Stephen Murdoch's 33 was the second-highest score - in a tall chase of 302. After losing Jesse Ryder, his opening partner, in the first over, Papps constructed two half-century stands that kept Wellington on track. But he ran out of partners in the second half of the innings. Tarun Nethula led the Central Districts' bowling with an economical spell that fetched him two wickets.

Central's top order came together to put up a strong batting performance after winning the toss. Jamie How and Jeet Raval added 91 for the first wicket and the middle-order, too, formed good partnerships. Ross Taylor scored his second successive fifty, but it was captain Kieran Noema-Barnett's quick 67 that pushed the team towards a strong total. James Franklin was the most successful bowler for Auckland with 3 for 35.