The Central Districts cricketers have beaten Canterbury by six wickets in the second preliminary final of the men's one day domestic competition in Christchurch.
Central now face Northern for a place in the final, who lost to Auckland by eight wickets in the first preliminary final at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland.
Canterbury had looked on track for that sudden-death play-off after making 258 for eight in their 50 overs at QEII Park, and having Central reeling at 166 for four with 10 overs remaining.
But instead Canterbury are out, thanks largely to an unbeaten 105 from Matthew Sinclair in a fifth-wicket stand of 128 with Brendon Diamanti, who made 59.
Auckland were set a paltry 105 to win after dismissing Northern at the end of the 33rd over, and the table-topping Aces cruised to the win in their 21st over.
