It got to everyone yesterday but Otago held on to win, thanks to a catastrophic decision by Wellington all-rounder Malcolm Nofal.
The left-hander had threatened to drag his side through to an improbable win with a fine knock of 87.
But he panicked at basically the last hurdle and set off for an ill-fated single.
He got halfway down the track before realising No11 Hamish Bennett was not coming.
He turned in time to watch Mitchell Renwick whip the bails off to seal a tense two-run win.
And boy, did Otago need that win. The Volts had slumped to three consecutive defeats and it looked as though a heartbreaking fourth was on the way.
Wellington needed just six off the last over from Nathan Smith. Nofal hit two off the first delivery but a single off the second left Jeetan Patel exposed.
But he had been playing nicely and Wellington needed only three to win. However, the veteran spinner holed out for a valuable cameo of 27 from 19 balls.
The batsman crossed so Bennett was comfortably ensconced at the non-striker’s end with a front-row seat.
The odds were on Nofal to seal the win but, well, pressure. It got to him.
Wellington had rallied from 46 for four to almost overhaul Otago’s tally of 262 for six.
Veteran Otago batsman Neil Broom must have a sense of occasion. The 36-year-old was playing his 100th list A game
for the Volts and celebrated with a century.
The right-hander has been the starch in the Volts batting order during a long career and demonstrated his class with a knock of 112 from 127 deliveries.
He arrived at the wicket with his side 14 for one. When opener Hamish Rutherford was undone on 32, Renwick picked up the responsibility of rebuilding with Broom.
The pair added 101 for the third wicket. Renwick went for 50 with the side 161 for three.
Anaru Kitchen chipped in with crisp cameo of 35 from 21, and Michael Rippon added 22.
Ollie Newton grabbed a brace for Wellington to extend his competition haul to 13 wickets, while the Firebirds spin trio of Patel (none for 43) Rachin Ravindra (one for 42) and Nofal (two for 56) did a good job to restrict Otago.
Wellington’s chase got into early trouble. Openers Andrew Fletcher and Ravindra added just one between them.
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was bowled for a duck, and Michael Bracewell threw his wicket away on 20.
But Devon Conway kept his side afloat with a fine knock of 70. But it fell to Nofal to carry the Firebirds to victory and he could not quite manage it.
In the other games, Auckland pummelled Canterbury by 184 runs. The Aces smashed a team record 401 for eight.
Colin Munro played a big hand in the massive total. He clouted 167 from 94 deliveries.
Canterbury was able to muster only 217 in reply. Jack Boyle top-scored with 92. Auckland spinner Will Somerville took four for 48 to help seal the win.
Dane Cleaver struck 108 to help Central Districts post 285 for seven. But Northern Districts were always in control of the chase. Joe Carter (78 not out) and Henry Cooper (77 not out) guided their side to a six-wicket win.
