Phillips, Raval steer Auckland home

A second-wicket stand of 100 between Glenn Phillips and Jeet Raval propelled Auckland to a six-wicket win against Canterbury at Hagley Oval. Chasing 134, Auckland lost Rob Nicol in the fourth over of their innings, before Raval joined Phillips at the crease. They fell within an over of each other, but not before they had steered Auckland to within 16 runs of their target. Phillips made a run-a-ball 50, with one four and two sixes, while Raval struck 44 off 35 balls, with six fours. Auckland lost SM Solia to a run-out soon after the dismissals of Raval and Phillips, before Mark Chapman and Ben Horne guided them home with one over remaining.

Chapman was instrumental with the ball as well, his left-arm spin snaring three wickets to help restrict Canterbury to 133 after they had chosen to bat. Canterbury started well, with Cam Fletcher scoring 43 and adding 54 for the first wicket with Tom Latham. The run-out of Latham, however, pegged them back, and Chapman dismissed Chad Bowes, Peter Fulton and Fletcher to reduce them to 102 for 4 in the 16th over. That Canterbury got as far as 133 was down to Henry Nicholls, who came in at No. 5 and scored 39 off 27 balls, with three fours and a six.