A maiden State Championship century by State Central Stags batsman Tim Weston was not enough to deny Auckland Aces an outright victory at Eden Park Outer Oval.
Chris Martin claimed eight wickets in the match and Andre Adams seven as the hosts completed a 94-run win.
Weston posted 152 in almost five hours at the crease, with a fifth-wicket stand of 168 with Bevan Griggs (69) putting the Stags back in with a chance of victory.
However, Gareth Hayne, with three for 80, broke the partnership by removing Griggs, and the visitors fell some way short of their 375 victory target.
