Blackcaps white-ball specialist Martin Guptill held his bat to lift Auckland Aces past Central Districts in the T20 Super Smash on Monday.
The right-hander scored 79 not out from 58 balls in Palmerston North as Auckland chased down 169 for victory with Lockie Ferguson smashing a last over six to seal the win.
It marked a great recovery from Guptill and the Aces who were 34/3 seven overs into their pursuit of the Stags' 168/5.
Needing 100 from the final nine overs, Guptill launched, ably supported by Robbie O'Donnell (34), with the pair adding 70 crucial runs in quick time.
Ben Horne's 27 from nine balls provided the late-innings power that pushed the Aces over the line with Ferguson's whip over the legside boundary coming with two balls to spare.
Earlier, CD were on track for an even bigger score after a fantastic opening partnership of 55 from Bradley Wiggins (37) and Greg Hay (57), but they were pegged back by Ferguson (2/24) and two wickets from Louis Delport.
The match was part of a double-header with the Central Hinds pipping Auckland Hearts by 14 runs in the women's Super Smash.
