They were well beaten by Northern Districts in the third round of the Ford Trophy at Seddon Park in Hamilton but, courtesy of bagging bonus point wins over ND and Central Districts in their first two matches, still hold a one-point advantage over ND.
This is the first round in which the players going to the world T20 tournament in Bangladesh have been absent and Auckland felt it.
ND still have test-only wicketkeeper BJ Watling, and his unbeaten 97 was instrumental in ND making 257 for five. Watling and Daryl Mitchell put on 87 for the third wicket to help set up a 110-run win.
Auckland managed just 147, only captain Gareth Hopkins and Donovan Grobelaar reaching 20, after Scott Kuggeleijn took the top off the innings.
Canterbury romped to a 10-wicket win over CD in Christchurch. The visitors were rolled for just 94 in 19.1 overs, as Andrew Ellis achieved his best one-day figures, five for 17.
In the tightest match, Wellington got their first win off the last ball against Otago in the capital.
Wellington reached 308 for five, Michael Papps (98) and Steven Murdoch (89) adding 144 for the first wicket.
Otago needed three off the final ball but Sam Wells (50) was instead dismissed. Earlier Aaron Redmond (96) and Mark Bracewell (60) shared an Otago second wicket record 155.
In fourth round games on Wednesday, Auckland host CD at Eden Park; Otago play Canterbury in Dunedin and Wellington face ND in Wellington.
Points: Auckland 10, ND 9, Canterbury 7, Wellington 6, CD 5, Otago 4.
- David Leggat of the New Zealand Herald
