Derek de Boorder and Warren McSkimming were the stand-outs for Otago on the opening day of the first trial game against Canterbury at the University Oval No 2 yesterday.
Otago was 270 for six at stumps after winning the toss and deciding to bat in the first of the back-to-back two-day games.
It was slow going, with the home side averaging well under three runs per over for most of the day.
But the middle-order pair of de Boorder (101 not out) and McSkimming (75 retired) showed their application to bat Otago out of a tight spot.
The Volts were two for one and six for two as first Craig Cumming and then Shaun Haig were dismissed for single figures.
Darren Broom (16 off 46 balls) and Leighton Morgan (12 off 64) got in but couldn't push on, and when Hamish Rutherford was out for a circumspect 30, Otago was shakily placed at 96 for five.
De Boorder, a compact wicketkeeper-batsman, and McSkimming, a bowling all-rounder, will both play key roles this summer with so many Otago players on international duty.
They were given the task of the rescue job yesterday, and they delivered superbly.
The pair combined for a partnership of 142 for the sixth wicket that was broken when play stopped briefly for bad light and McSkimming retired, having reached 75 off 134 balls.
De Boorder pushed on to his century, raising his bat after facing 212 balls and hitting four boundaries.
"Derek was very patient on a low and slow surface," Otago coach Mike Hesson said.
"He had to work hard and he grafted very well."
Hesson said the score wasn't hugely important and he was pleased a handful of his batsmen were able to get significant time at the crease.
Otago will declare overnight and give its bowlers a chance to have a good work-out today.
