Bay of Plenty fell at the final hurdle in pursuit of securing Northern Districts' automatic Hawke Cup challenge berth.
The Bay suffered a disappointing loss to Counties Manukau in Taupo yesterday.
They delivered with the ball first up, dismissing Counties for 188 to give themselves every chance of chasing down the target inside 40 overs to secure a bonus point and the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl trophy.
It was with the bat that the problems began. The Bay were reduced to 30-2 when Tom MacRury joined fellow opener Peter Drysdale in the hut in the seventh over.
The association's last Hawke Cup holders showed their hand by batting trump card Brett Hampton at No4, but his 37 from 35 was the only real contribution in a disappointing chase.