Canterbury's great era in New Zealand one-day domestic cricket is over.

Unable to cash in on its first-up success in the Shell Cup final series at Napier, it lost both its home finals over the weekend. The second today was by a thumping eight-wicket margin.

It was the first time in the two years the formula has been used that the series has been taken to three games.

In the process, Canterbury became the first team to lose the Cup after winning the first final. It was also the first time the two home finals have both been lost.

As is so often the case when sporting dynasties end, they don't just fade out, they crash and burn in agonising fashion.

It happened to the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, it happened to Liverpool after their great run in English soccer, it happened to the All Blacks at the 1999 World Cup and to the great Auckland rugby era in the 1980s and 1990s, and on the weekend's form it has now happened, on a reduced scale, to Canterbury.

It has been a wonderful era. It has made an impact on the New Zealand scene, and on the world scene.

It has produced players like Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming, Geoff Allott, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan.

The challenge now for Canterbury is to quickly organise a rebirth. It could be difficult as next summer as the international players will be on duty in Australia and are unlikely to be available at the business end of the Cup season.

Retiring coach Garry MacDonald's summation was simple: "We weren't beaten, we were given a really good hiding.

"Any team that comes to Canterbury and beats us twice in two games at home deserves to win.

"With two sides with a lot of batting talent one was going to fire, and I hoped it would be us," he said.

MacDonald couldn't explain Canterbury's lack of touch in the series.

"If I could put my finger on it I would but when a team loses five wickets for eight runs I wouldn't know, I wouldn't have a clue. We've got good players," he said.

Canterbury had been getting away with poor performances for too long and it got caught out in the end.

"For CD to go into a Shell Cup finals series with five bowlers, so inexperienced, it is a credit to them that no-one has collared them. They bowled to a plan and no-one's got hold of them," he said.

On the evidence this season, the young players in the side have a lot of work to do to ensure that a formidable combination is fielded next season.

"Canterbury is in a delicate position and have to harden up some of our young batsmen before next season or we could be in for quite a hard ride," he warned.

© CricInfo