Northern Districts went down to Auckland in their Ford Trophy opener yesterday, paying the price for failing to bat out their full 50 overs.

That will give them a key work-on to look at for their next encounter, at home to Otago this Sunday at Hamilton's Seddon Park.

It came down to a narrow two-wicket win to the home side at Eden Park's Outer Oval, after both teams had taken the initiative at various times in the match, but ND can feel they let this one slip being dismissed in the 46th over for 268 after losing the toss and receiving an invitation to bat first.

Even just another 10 to 15 runs on the target may well have been enough to get the job done as the Auckland Aces snuck home with just two wickets and two balls of their 50th over to spare.

ND can thank a blistering 79 not out off 52 balls from Bay of Plenty's Brett Hampton, one of five Bay players they took into the game, for getting them through to a defendable total.

Wickets fell steadily through the innings, with a number of batsmen, including openers Daniel Flynn and Henry Cooper, Anton Devcich, and Dean Brownlie getting starts but not sticking around to build partnerships. Daryl Mitchell's 66 was the only knock of substance from the top six.

When Hampton entered the fray at the fall of Brownlie's wicket at 135 for five ND's situation looked seriously uncomfortable, but he did an excellent job of turning it around with his unbeaten innings, which included six fours and four sixes. With a little more support from the lower order it might well have been good enough to get the team across the line.

One of those batsmen who could have done more to help Hampton was Trent Boult, who stuck around for just four balls for his duck. As soon as the Aces got into their work though, he did his best to make amends.

On the third ball of the innings he had Finn Allen, star of New Zealand's team at the under 19 World Cup earlier this year, caught by Anton Devcich at mid-on. Next ball the same pair teamed up to dismiss new batsman Michael Barry, although this time Devcich was at third slip.

The Aces were shaking with two wickets gone for just one run on the board, and facing a fired-up Boult on a hat-trick, but experienced skipper Craig Cachopa was good enough to survive the threat.

ND continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals, but couldn't take the one they really needed - that of Auckland's Samoan international opener Sean Solia. He carried his bat for 133 not out, and carried his team to the victory.

Ford Trophy round one, Eden Park Outer Oval:

Northern Districts 268 (45.3 ov), Hampton 79*, Mitchell 66, Mitch McClenaghan 3/57 - beaten by Auckland Aces 271/8 (49.4 ov), Solia 133*, Boult 3/61, Brett Randell 2/53.

Round two, this Sunday:

Northern Districts v Otago Volts, Seddon Park Hamilton, 11am start.