White Fern Sara McGlashan guided Auckland to an eight-wicket win against Otago in Lincoln yesterday with a superbly paced half-century.
The classy right-hander scored 56 not out from 51 balls to help her side get past Otago's competitive total of 147 for four.
The 35-year-old also featured in two defining partnerships.
She combined with opener Anna Peterson to put on 73 after Auckland's chase got off to the worst possible start when Lauren Down perished first ball.
Maddy Green took up the cudgels when Peterson was undone for 42 and made a significant contribution with 36 not out from 30 balls.
But McGlashan shaped as the key wicket and Otago just could not pry her from the crease.
Earlier, Katey Martin powered Otago along with a rapid half-century.
Her 50 came off just 25 balls and featured 10 fours, most of them behind point or slashed to the third man boundary.
The White Ferns middle-order batsman was in exquisite touch but got a leading edge on 67 and was caught. She had some terrific support from Leigh Kasperek, who cracked 31 from 20 deliveries, while Beth Langston added a valuable 25 not out from 23 balls.
Captain Suzie Bates played a hesitant knock of 16 from 29. The classy opener just could not get going and got herself stumped.
Kate Heffernan was arguably the pick of the Otago bowlers. She went wicketless but proved hard to get away, her four overs costing just 18 runs.
Langston's one for 25 represented a solid outing as well, while Emma Black got the other wicket but was awfully expensive. Bates got knocked around as well.
