The Volts posted a below-par 229 for nine in their one-dayer against Wellington yesterday.
The visiting side mowed down a good chunk of the target inside the first 10 overs, thanks to some sloppy bowling, and cruised to a five-wicket win with more than four overs to spare.
The defending champion should have had to chase a much bigger total but the Volts slumped from 138 for one to 170 for six.
That disastrous nine-over period robbed the home side of a much more competitive total. Otago coach Rob Walter felt another 20 runs might have been enough.
"Losing five wickets in nine overs certainly slowed things down," he lamented.
"We had our sights set on beyond 250. But when we got to [229] we knew we were 20 short.
"We didn't bowl very well in the first 10 overs, unfortunately, and from then on they weren't under a huge amount of pressure."
Otago got a nice platform established. Mitchell Renwick dominated the strike early but made a mistake on 29.
Nick Kelly, who scored a hundred in his debut for Otago on Sunday, eventually got into his stride and started finding the boundary. He combined with Dean Foxcroft in a 98-run stand for the second wicket.
But Kelly holed out for 65 and Foxcroft followed shortly after for 37. The double strike put a big dent in Otago's innings and it only got worse.
Neil Broom (1) swiped the ball to a fielder and Nathan Smith (1) chipped it to another. The good start had unravelled quickly.
Otago had lost four wickets for the addition of three runs.
Anaru Kitchen rallied with 45 not out from 47 to help steer the Volts past 200.
Ollie Newton was the pick of the Wellington seamers. He took three for 36 and left-arm spinner Malcolm Nofal two for 30.
The Volts pounced early through Blair Soper. The left-armer, making his list A debut, was a little wayward but struck with his last ball of the first over. Andrew Fletcher was lured into a drive and nicked out.
The joy was shortlived for the home team. Rachin Ravindra made sure of that. The 20-year-old, who was also making his one-day debut, flashed hard at anything pitched up and found the middle of the bat regularly.
The ball sped to the boundary and he rushed to 50 from 37 balls. Jacob Duffy nicked him out for 57 but the damage was done.
Devon Conway kept up the pressure up. The South Africa-born left-hander pummelled 79 from 88 deliveries. He becomes available for New Zealand in September, not that anyone needs reminding.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland recorded a 100-run win against Central Districts after posting 271. Robbie O'Donnell top-scored with 69 but pace bowler Lockie Ferguson starred with five for 38. Get him in the test team.
At Seddon Park, opener Jack Boyle plundered 126 to help Canterbury reach 296 for five.
The Canterbury bowlers then shared the wickets around as Northern Districts was dismissed for 212, a win for Canterbury by 84 runs.
