That someone else was the Northern Knights. The Volts chased down the Knights' middling total of 141 for five in Wellington last night to record just their second victory in the twenty20 tournament.
Had it not been for some lusty blows from the captain Ryan ten Doeschate, Otago may have found itself on the wrong end of another narrow loss.
He smashed Anurag Verma for back-to-back sixes in the 18th over which effectively sealed the five wicket win. It left Otago needing 11 from the last two overs and the Volts did it in a canter.
Ten Doeschate's undefeated knock of 44 from 30 proved the difference.
Earlier, the chase threatened to stumble following a sluggish beginning.
Iain Robertson took a while to find the middle of his bat. When he did, it was worth the wait. He cracked a Scott Kuggeleijn delivery for six and it just sounded so magnificent.
Otago needed a boundary, too. The early loss of Aaron Redmond perhaps sent some jitters through the camp and the pace was pedestrian, with just 24 runs scored from the first block of five overs.
Robertson had his moments. A thick edge evaded the keeper and he skied one earlier which was out of reach as well.
But having survived some anxious moments his innings was cut short by some wonderful fielding by Mitchell Santner, whose throw from near the boundary beat Robertson (37) back to the non-strikers' end.
Opener Sam Wells hobbled off moments later with a calf injury.
A potential turning point came when Michael Bracewell (5) pulled a shot straight to the only fielder on the leg side.
That brought the inexperienced Brad Rodden to the crease, who came and went quickly, and Roald Badenhorst pushed a gentle catch to mid off.
But Nick Beard joined ten Doeschate in the middle and played a smart hand, pushing singles and feeding his skipper the strike.
The Volts made a decent start with the ball. The veteran James McMillan was on target early and proved tricky to get away.
Wells let the handbrake off in the sixth over with some dismal bowling. He was too wide, too short and promptly dispatched for three consecutive fours.
Ten Doeschate got the first breakthrough. He cramped Santner (18) for room and bowled him.
McMillan picked up the key wicket, though. He dropped a delivery short and Daniel Flynn pulled him square but was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Robertson.
Flynn top scored for Northern with 49 from 45 in what was a largely lacklustre effort by the Knights.
Tim Seiert provided some hitting power at the end with an undefeated 17 from seven, and Daryl Mitchell chipped in with 22 not out from 21 deliveries.
Otago overseas player Dirk Nannes has struggled for most of the tournament and served up a series of half volleys - again.
The former Australian and Dutch international got hit for 16 off the last over and conceded 37 runs from his three overs. Fellow left-armer Bradley Scott took two for 27 and hit the lengths Nannes missed. McMillan was the pick, though, with one for 14.
In the early game, Wellington beat Central Districts by six wickets. The Firebirds are in second place with 22 points. Northern has a game in hand and leads with 22 points from Canterbury (16), Auckland (14), Central (10) and Otago (8).
