Colin Munro's first innings century proved in vain as Auckland were thrashed by 213 runs by visiting Wellington on the final day of their Plunket Shield clash.
Munro, Worcestershire Rapids 2015 overseas player in the NatWest T20 Blast, had scored 108 to help earn Auckland a first innings lead.
But Wellington set their opponents a last day target of 382 and they were bowled out for 168 in 68 overs.
Munro contributed eight – with one six – in the second innings as Auckland slumped to a third successive defeat in the competition.
Their hopes of winning the competition are now slim as they occupy second spot on 77 points – 27 behind leaders Canterbury with just two games remaining.
Munro held onto two second innings catches including opener and top scorer Michael Papps who made 171.
Wellington declared on 387-7 from 94 overs and then made short work of the Auckland batsman. Munro was third out with the total on 52 in the 19th over.
Auckland wrap up their programme by visiting Central Districts at Napier on March 25-28 and then entertaining Otago on April 1-4.
Munro will link up with Worcestershire in mid May in time for the opening T20 Blast match away to Birmingham Bears on May 22.
He finished as the county's second highest scorer in the competition behind skipper Daryl Mitchell in last season's run to the quarter-finals.
*Former Worcestershire T20 player Steve Smith helped Australia reach the semi-finals of the World Cup via a six wicket win over Pakistan today.
Smith, who had a spell at New Road during the 2010 season, scored 65 off 69 balls with seven fours before being trapped lbw by Ehsan Adil.
He shared a partnership of 89 in 16 overs with Shane Watson (64 not out) after Australia had been 59-3 in pursuit of Pakistan's 213 all out in 49.5 overs.
Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten 44 off 29 balls saw Australia to their target in 33.5 overs.
