Defending champions Auckland showed good composure in a nail-biting finish to hand Canterbury a frustrating eight-run Twenty20 cricket defeat.
Chasing 198 for victory at Eden Park on Friday night, Canterbury needed 15 off the last over with eight wickets in hand and the big-hitting Brendon Diamanti at the crease.
But the asking rate proved too great for the Wizards as then lost four wickets to be stranded on 189-6.
Andre Adams' medium pace was responsible for three of the victims, including Diamanti (29) and Dean Brownlie (48), both caught by Lou Vincent on the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Adams, who ended with the excellent figures of 4-20, also showed deft skill to complete the run out of English import Gareth Andrew without facing a ball.
Brownlie and opener George Worker had earlier set the platform for Canterbury with a 106-run partnership for the second wicket before Worker went for 68.
Auckland's innings of 197-9 was built on two big knocks by skipper Gareth Hopkins, with 64 from 37 deliveries, and Colin de Grandhomme, who blasted a 33-ball 60.
The Aces have now won both their matches in the competition, while Canterbury have lost all three of theirs.
NZN