Otago saved its worst batting display for its most important match and has been knocked out of contention in the Ford Trophy one-day competition after losing to Auckland by 73 runs at Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday.
Volts interim coach Nathan King was at a loss to explain why his highly-rated batting line-up folded to be all out for a paltry 165 chasing a modest target of 239 at Eden Park Outer Oval.
''It is a hard one to explain,'' he said.
''We bowled and fielded really well [to restrict them to 238]. So we did a good job there but the batting is difficult to explain at the moment to be honest.
''Some individuals may have thought it was just going to happen because of the way we have been batting.
''What I can say is there were some poor dismissals - some loose shots that hadn't been hit over recent games. That led to some dismissals.''
The loss leaves Otago in last place with two wins from seven games and no hope of sneaking into the playoffs. The team has one round-robin match remaining, against Central Districts in Dunedin on Wednesday. The winner will avoid the wooden spoon.
With a power-packed batting line-up featuring Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Jesse Ryder and Ryan ten Doeschate, Otago was expected to do well.
But while the Volts have generally batted well, they have struggled to defend totals. They lost three close games which all went down to the last over.
However, Otago finished second in the Plunket Shield and the HRV Cup, so overall the season had more highlights than disappointments - not that you would know it judging by the scenes in the dressing room.
''Everybody is pretty deflated,'' King said.
''There is not a lot of talking because the guys know that it is another season over and it is a disappointing end to the season.''
''We struggled to restrict and we struggled to bowl teams out. But that side of our game actually went from strength to strength as the competition has gone on. But, unfortunately, that was our worst batting display by a considerable amount.''
Donovan Grobbelaar top-scored for Auckland with 51 with Tim McIntosh (39) and Michael Bates (30) making valuable contributions.
Auckland should have scored a lot more but the running between the wickets was awful as three run-outs kept the innings in check.
Otago's reply ran into immediate troubles with Redmond (four) trapped lbw and Michael Bracewell bowled for 10. Derek de Boorder (six) came in at No 4 to help Otago consolidate but was soon back in the dressing room. When Ryder holed out for 21, Otago was in a hopeless position at 104 for six.
Sam Wells added 30 and Rutherford top-scored with 33 in what was an otherwise a dismal batting display.
Bates and Tipene Friday picked up three wickets apiece.
