Cricket: Auckland failure to improve T20 record

The overall score for New Zealand cricket teams at the Champions League now stands at 0-8 after Auckland's failure to advance out of the qualifying competition in Hyderabad yesterday.

Auckland lost their second game in two days to English county Somerset by four wickets on the final ball of their T20 game yesterday. That followed a two-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Against Kolkata, after the bowlers had done a tidy job restricting the Indian Premier League side to 121 for six, Auckland lost their way early, with international Martin Guptill and Australian import Rob Quiney both making ducks. Auckland needed 35 from the last five overs with five wickets standing but could not complete the job.

Yesterday, having chosen to bat first, Auckland made 125 for seven, Lou Vincent following his 40 off 37 balls against Kolkata with a run-a-ball unbeaten 47.

With the pitch slowing up, Auckland must have fancied their chances as Somerset slumped in mid-innings to 64 for five and eight overs left. However, a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket by James Hildreth and Steve Snell got Somerset home on the last ball.

Auckland's international seamer Kyle Mills had a night to forget. With Somerset needing 20 off the last two overs, he leaked 15 runs in the penultimate over, and dropped two catches off his own bowling.

"In both games we were in thereright till the end," Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins said. "To fallshort is pretty gut-wrenching."

Auckland's results follow Otago losing both their games in the inaugural Champions League in 2009, and Central Districts losing all four last year. Collectively that is bad news for New Zealand's credibility. Indian officials are likely to continue taking a dim view of this country's domestic game.

Otago and CD's performances put Auckland into a qualifier, rather than directly into the main draw; Auckland's performances are not likely to change that situation next year.

Apart from Vincent, the pick of the team was left armer Michael Bates. Having taken one for 13 from his four overs against Kolkata, he took two for 13 from four, with a maiden to boot.

The Plunket Shield competition begins on November 7. Mills, Guptill, test seamer Chris Martin and left arm spinner Bruce Martin will join the New Zealand training camp at Lincoln on their return. The camp will run until next Thursday ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe, which starts on October 15.

* Swing bowler Tim Southee has pulled out of the Chennai Super Kings squad for the Champions League proper with a knee injury.