KEY POINTS:
Auckland wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins hit a six to reach his first one-day century and another to give his team victory by three wickets over Central Districts at Eden Park yesterday.
The 31-year-old, in his first season for the Aces, scored 130 not out off 123 balls as Auckland
reached 256 for seven in reply to the Stags' 254 for six with seven balls to spare.
Auckland went into their final regular season game assured of a place in the final but Central Districts' hopes of a semifinal were dashed by the loss.
What made Hopkins' innings so special was that he came to the wicket with Auckland 18 for four wickets and looking at their third defeat of the season.
But opener Martin Guptill shared a 100-run partnership with Hopkins before he was lbw to Brent Hefford with the score at 128. Two more wickets fell and at 163 for seven CD could scent victory.
But Hopkins was piercing the field with some immaculate driving and Ronil Hira added some aggression, including a towering six over the sightscreen.
The pair were still together at the end with Hira on 44 off 41 balls and the unbroken partnership worth 93 off 74 balls.
Central Districts and particularly Mathew Sinclair and Ewen Thompson can look back on the one that got away.
Sinclair was the rock of the Central innings, a little tentative at first but growing in confidence and it was a surprise when he fell to a diving catch by Hopkins off Daryl Tuffey at 89 with CD 236 for six.
Opener Peter Ingram had contributed a brisk 59 and Greg Hay, batting with a runner after injuring a leg, made 38. Thompson with a mixture of power and some original strokes contributed 41 off 38 balls.
Best of the Auckland bowlers was Hira, who captured three for 29 off 10 overs with his left-arm spin.
Thompson was inspired at the start of the Auckland innings. He charged in and clean bowled Lou Vincent and Colin de Grandhomme and had Richard Jones caught at point. With Rob Nicol bowled by Jamaican Evon McInnis, the Auckland top order was shattered.
Thompson after five overs had three for 14 but Hopkins was still there and CD suffered a blow when Brendon Diamanti could not bowl and Sinclair had to provide nine tidy overs.
Auckland's planning for the final has been complicated by doubts over the availability of some key players.
* Otago and Canterbury won a congested race to earn themselves places in the semifinal.
The two southern provinces won tight contests against Northern Districts and Wellington and will now meet in Christchurch on Sunday.
Canterbury snuck home in Wellington by two wickets with four balls to spare while Otago held off ND by four runs in Invercargill.