But Jimmy Neesham and Derek de Boorder provided some substance to help the Volts reach 289 on the opening day of their Plunket Shield match against Central Districts in Napier yesterday.
And Neil Wagner picked up a late wicket to help the visiting side regain the ground it lost in a damaging first session.
The Stags will resume this morning on 22 for one.
In a surprise move, Otago skipper Rob Nicol was named 12th man, freeing up a spot for form batsman Shawn Hicks in the top order.
Nicol had a terrible run during the opening half of the Plunket Shield, scoring just 90 runs at an average of 10. But with three months having lapsed since Otago last played a first-class game, you could be excused for thinking the captain would get another opportunity.
But Hicks' form demanded a start. He was fresh from a devastating hundred at club level and he made the most of his one opportunity earlier in the season, posting scores of 63 and 35.
He had no luck yesterday, though. He was run out for seven in another dismal effort by the top order in which both openers nicked out cheaply, while Anaru Kitchen's stint at the crease lasted just two balls.
The Volts were limping along with just over 50 on the scoreboard and four batsmen already done for the innings.
Neil Broom was the only specialist able to get going. The right-hander combined with wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder to get the Volts through to lunch at 100 for four.
A big partnership was needed but Doug Bracewell secured an important breakthrough when he trapped Broom lbw for 48.
Earlier, he had claimed the wickets of stand-in captain Brad Wilson and Kitchen in the space of three deliveries.
He got Broom with a big inswinger that clipped the inside of the pad. That left the Volts' innings teetering, but former Black Caps international Jimmy Neesham took the attack back to the Stags' bowling unit.
The 27-year-old brought up his 50 with a rollicking pull shot for four to help further ease the pressure on his side.
But, when he had blazed 65 from 67 balls, Bracewell struck him in front and got the decision.
De Boorder continued to lay the bedrock for others. He played second fiddle in a stand of 101 with Neesham and was happy to let Mark Craig take the lead during his 29-run cameo.
But his resistance eventually came to an end on 73. Having batted for nearly four hours, he missed a full toss from Seth Rance.
Rance then polished off the tail to finish with five for 58, while Bracewell took four for 59 in what was arguably a more influential performance.
In Christchurch, Canterbury slumped to be all out for 156. Wellington's Ian McPeake took five for 30 but his side found batting just as tough. At stumps, the visitors were 133 for six in a game destined for an early finish.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland scored 339, Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 93. James Baker was the pick of the Northern Districts bowlers, returning a career-best six for 72.
