Green Island has suffered a second setback at the National Club Championships in Auckland.
The Swamp Rats were looking to bounce back following a loss to Wellington's Eastern Suburbs on Thursday but were edged by Canterbury side St Albans in a tight encounter on Cornwall Park No2 yesterday.
The Sunnyvale-based team posted a competitive total of 269 for seven on a tired wicket.
But the unbeaten St Albans team overhauled the target with four wickets and nine balls to spare.
Tyler Lortan led his side to victory with 94 not out from 109 balls.
Veteran Green Island all-rounder Mark Joyce was the pick of the bowlers with three for 36.
Green Island stumbled early with the bat. It slumped to 50 for four.
But Gregor Croudis and Christi Viljoen teamed up to add 145 for the fifth wicket.
Croudis was undone nine runs short of a century and Viljoen ran out of overs to reach three figures and had to settle for 97 not out.
BJ Thatcher shone with the ball for St Albans, snaring five for 50.
Defending champion Napier Technical Old Boys beat Parnell by four wickets to set up a crunch match against Green Island today, while in the other game, Eastern Suburbs beat Greerton by three wickets.
