Bates delivers for Auckland in eliminator

Auckland 159 for 7 (Hopkins 39, Kain 4-17) tied with Central Districts 159 (Cachopa 41, Bates 3-42)
Scorecard
Auckland won the one-over eliminator

Auckland's bowlers hung on to tie a shortened 16-over game and then restricted Central Districts in the one-over eliminator to set up a victory in New Plymouth.

After choosing to bowl, Central Districts took early wickets to slow Auckland down, and the score was 45 for 4 in 7.2 overs after Colin de Grandhomme became the second of Marty Kain's four wickets. Gareth Hopkins provided the propulsion, scoring 39 off 14 balls with six sixes, along with Donovan Grobbelaar, who hit four sixes in his 37 off 13 balls. The small boundaries at Pukekura Park allowed Auckland to reach 159 for 7 in 16 overs.

Central Districts made a faster start to their chase but lost wickets frequently and slipped to 63 for 6 in 7.4 overs. Carl Cachopa steadied the innings with 41 but was dismissed in the 14th over, leaving Central Districts with 30 to get off 15 balls. Kain delivered a valuable cameo, striking 22 off 11 deliveries, but they lost two wickets in the final over of the game. The No. 11 Tarun Nethula was run out off the final ball while attempting the winning run.

Auckland chose Michael Bates to bowl the one-over eliminator and he responded by dismissing Peter Trego and Kieran Noema-Barnett, while conceding only six runs. Central Districts chose Jacob Oram as their bowler - he had gone for 0 for 31 in four overs during the game - and de Grandhomme hit a six to help Auckland take 11 runs off the first four balls and win the game.