Auckland remain in the hunt for a third successive Twenty20 cricket title after a nail-biting four-wicket win over Canterbury with three balls to spare.

The match was effectively a sudden-death tie and it was Canterbury whose play-off ambitions were ended in Rangiora on Sunday.

The Wizards’ total of 182-4 was built on George Worker’s 89 not out, the opener profiting from two dropped catches.

The Aces were off the pace early in their chase, but quick runs from Colin de Grandhomme (36) and Craig Cachopa (37) lifted the run rate.

With the contest finely poised, Donovan Grobbelaar came in and smacked the next three Andrew Ellis deliveries for a six, a four and a six.

Grobbelaar went on to finish the game with two consecutive boundaries, his 24 not out coming off just seven balls.

Auckland now need to beat bottom-of-the-table Central Districts on Tuesday to pip Northern Districts for the third and last play-off spot.

Otago, who have been confirmed as top qualifiers and will host the final next Sunday, defeated CD by three wickets in New Plymouth.

In Wellington, Jesse Ryder’s prolific summer continued as he hit 85 not out to help the Firebirds down ND by nine runs.

The result ensures Wellington will finish the round-robin in second place and be at home when they face either ND or Auckland on Friday to decide the other berth in the final.

Ryder and skipper Michael Papps (65 not out) shared an unbeaten 142-run partnership in a total of 181-1.

Ryder also produced a piece of magic in the field as ND were restricted to 172-5, running out James Foster for 33 with a back-hand direct hit.

The dismissal ended a threatening 90-run fourth-wicket stand between Foster and James Marshall, who finished on 53 not out.