Central Districts have beaten Auckland by 8 wickets in a preview to their preliminary final of the Ford Trophy one-day cricket competition.
The Stags won their final round robin match at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth by eight wickets, promoting themselves from fourth to first and pocketing a crucial bonus point in the process after chasing down the Aces' inadequate 123 in only 27.2 overs.
Both teams were already assured of places in the preliminary finals being staged on Sunday but the Stags took the opportunity to ensure they head into the playoffs with momentum behind them.
Otago play Canterbury in the elimination play-off match on Sunday.
In other matches yesterday Northern Districts beat Canterbury by 4 wickets and Wellington beat Otago by 25 runs with Jessie Ryder returning from injury to hit 96 off 67 balls.
