The teams were meant to play a two-day match but conditions did not allow for any play on Sunday so a 50-over match was organised instead.
Canterbury posted 253 for nine and Otago had reached 179 for six when play was abandoned.
The Volts needed a further 75 runs from seven overs to nab the win.
''We played in bad light for about the last 10 overs,'' Volts coach Dimitri Mascarenhas said.
''It was just good for the boys to get out in the middle and have some practice. We were well on course for the win.''
Canterbury made an unsteady start courtesy of Neil Wagner.
The Black Caps left-armer took two early wickets, including test opener Peter Fulton.
All-rounder Sam Wells also ensured keeper Derek de Boorder ws kept busy by finding the edge twice.
Canterbury had slumped to 54 for four but former Otago batsman Neil Broom (76) and Henry Nicholls (72) put on 121 for the fifth-wicket.
Todd Astle held up the tail with an undefeated knock of 45 from 43 deliveries.
However, the home side lost some momentum in the final stages thanks to some nice death bowling by Tipene Friday (three for 40).
''Tip bowled very well. The new ball got away a bit. We had pretty attacking fields so that was always going to happen. But he came back very well.''
Wagner finished with four for 52 from 13 overs, Wells two for 42 from nine and de Boorder grabbed six catches.
Otago's chase suffered some bad luck with Hamish Rutherford retiring hurt. He was struck on the gloves by the towering Kyle Jamieson.
The 19-year-old is around the 2m mark and can get good bounce.
Rutherford's injury is not serious. Just bruising.
''Hopefully, he will be all right for the next game.''
Fellow opener Aaron Redmond could not get going.
He was caught for 14 but Michael Bracewell took up the challenge with a hard-hit 60 from 59 deliveries.
However, when he was run out, Otago was struggling at 98 for four.
Sam Wells got a start but was trapped lbw for 16 leaving de Boorder and Mark Craig with a big rescue job.
Craig was undefeated on 42 when bad light stopped play.
Otago plays Scotland tomorrow and Ireland on Thursday.
Canterbury 253 for nine (Broom 76, Nicholls 72; Wagner four for 52, Tipene Friday three for 40), Otago 179 for six (Michael Bracewell 60, Mark Craig 42 not out; Logan van Beek two for 25)
