Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - International Daryl Tuffey was to the fore as Auckland beat Wellington by 81 runs in a national one-day cricket match in Auckland today.

The New Zealand fast bowler claimed three for 12 off eight overs to help dismiss Wellington for 149 chasing the home side's 230.

Tuffey struck early to make life difficult for Wellington, removing openers Matthew Bell for 13 and Cameron Merchant for four.

Only Stewart Rhodes and Luke Woodcock in the middle order managed to steady Wellington's innings with contributions of 36 and 34, but the team collapsed to be all out in the 42nd over.

Before Rhodes and Woodcock took the crease, Wellington had struggled to 61 for five and had a run rate of only 1.6 after 10 overs.

Auckland allrounder Ravi Bopara added to his earlier knock of 43 by wrapping up the Wellington tail to finish with figures of three for 34 off seven overs, while Michael Bates and Roneel Hira chimed in with two wickets each.

Earlier, Andrew de Boorder topscored for Auckland with 57 before being caught on the third to last ball of the innings. Opener Reece Young had made a solid 41 from 52 balls for Auckland, while Bopara was restrained in reaching the boundary only once during his 43 off 68 balls before edging to wicketkeeper Chris Nevin off a BJ Crook delivery.

New Auckland addition and former international Lou Vincent lasted only six balls and scored as many runs.

Of the Wellington bowlers, Jeetan Patel and McKay were the most successful, taking three wickets each.