The bowling was pretty good as well.
And coach Dion Ebrahim was pleased with the effort in the field.
So what went wrong, then?
Adam Milne, that’s what.
The Wellington pace bowler came up with a terrific last over to help deny Otago a win at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.
Sometimes life gives you yorkers. There is nothing you can do but move on and prepare for the next one.
That is exactly what the Volts have done. They host Northern Districts in Queenstown today.
There is unlikely to be any fallout from the eight-run loss to the Firebirds.
Perhaps the Volts will tinker with the batting order a little or perhaps Andrew Hazeldine will get a run. Batter Thorn Parkes has been added to the squad as extra batting cover in the only change.
But Ebrahim was not planning on a major rethink.
For the most part he was happy with the performance against Wellington.
"It’s a format where you are going to lose games," Ebrahim said.
"But the way we approached our batting was outstanding and our fielding was exceptional."
The spinners got his tick of approval as well.
Dean Foxcroft timed the ball nicely from the outset and his knock of 73 was almost enough to secure the Volts a win in their campaign opener.
He also bowled really well. Initially, he was not even part of the captain’s plans.
But his two for 14 was a career-best in the format and pace bowler Michael Rae’s three for 13 was also a career-best.
Form seamer Jacob Duffy took some tap from Finn Allen early on, as did wrist spinner Michael Rippon. But otherwise it was a disciplined bowling display.
Northern Districts also had a loss in their opening game.
The match was reduced to 14 overs apiece. The Brave posted 96 for five.
Henry Shipley took an early bite out of their innings with two for five from two overs. Brett Hampton thumped 25 from 14 to inject some momentum late.
But Canterbury cantered to a nine-wicket win thanks to an undefeated knock of 57 by opener Chad Bowes.
It is an important period for the Volts. They host Auckland at the same venue tomorrow then head north to play the Aces at Eden Park Outer Oval on January 2 and Northern Districts at Seddon Park on January 6.
That will mark the halfway point in the round-robin.
Super Smash
Queenstown, 2.40pm
Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Dale Phillips, Dean Foxcroft, Josh Finnie, Llew Johnson, Michael Rippon, Jake Gibson, Ben Lockrose, Jacob Duffy, Matt Bacon, Michael Rae, Andrew Hazeldine, Thorn Parkes.
Northern Districts: Tim Seifert, Katene Clarke, Jeet Raval, Joe Carter, Mitchell Santner, Henry Cooper, Brett Hampton, Scott Kuggeleijn, Kristian Clarke, Tim Pringle, Joe Walker, Peter Bocock, Zak Gibson.
