Otago found the answer to its bowling woes in the slow lane.
The domestic twenty/20 champion got its defence off to a positive start with a six-wicket win over Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui yesterday.
Committed fielding and a much-improved effort with the ball laid the ground work for the victory.
Bowling all-rounders Nathan McCullum and Ian Butler finished the job with an unbroken stand of 70 for the fifth wicket.
McCullum's run-a-ball innings of 38 completed a fine match for the offspinner.
Earlier, he helped restrict Northern Districts to 137 for seven with a parsimonious four-over spell, conceding just 18 runs.
Left-arm spinner Nick Beard also helped swing the match with two for 27 from four overs, and Neil Broom was an unlikely hero.
The in-form batsman and very part-time offspinner took two for 19 from three overs.
It was going to be Otago's day from the moment Broom's first delivery - a half-tracker which should have ended a long way up the embankment at Blake Park - found its way on to the stumps after James Marshall managed to drag it on.
A little luck aside, Otago bowled with the sort of discipline which has been missing in the one-day tournament.
In the Volts' last outing, a one-dayer against Canterbury, the attack was smashed for a record 410 for five.
But there was no repeat, with the slow bowlers keeping the brakes on Northern's innings.
After six overs, Northern Districts would have felt well placed at 49 for one.
Daniel Vettori missed out.
He was caught in the deep after trying to repeat an earlier shot where he dispatched Warren McSkimming back over his head for six.
But with Black Caps top-order batsmen BJ Watling and Daniel Flynn starting to flourish, Northern looked on track to post a good total.
After the fielding restrictions lifted, Otago opted to take the pace out of the game.
Beard made his mark when he lured Flynn out of his crease.
Derek de Boorder completed the dismissal with a sharp stumping.
The keeper was in the action again moments later when Watling got a horrible call from Marshall and was run out comfortably.
Brendon McCullum speared the ball in after making several steps to his right.
Shortly after, Marshall dragged Broom's first delivery on to his stumps - not much of a match for the skipper.
Anton Devcich top-scored with an undefeated 37 to help give his side a modest total to defend.
It looked like it might be enough, with Tim Southee taking three quick wickets.
He trapped opener Hamish Rutherford in front for five, enticed Broom into a false shot and bowled Otago captain Craig Cumming after he played an awful hoick across the line.
Reeling at 28 for three, Brendon McCullum eventually came alive after a scratchy start, sweeping spinner Bruce Martin for consecutive sixes.
He did not allow Black Caps skipper and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to settle, either.
Vettori eventually got his man, trapping McCullum in front.
McCullum seemed to suggest he had hit it before the delivery struck the pad and replays cast further doubt, with the ball appearing to strike outside the line of off stump.
Sawn off three short of his half century, McCullum had no recourse but to leave, shaking his head.
His brother Nathan and Butler guided Otago past the target in the penultimate over.
Pakistan bowling all-rounder Yasir Arafat injured his hand while warming up and did not play.
Volts coach Mike Hesson hoped Arafat would be fit to play Central in New Plymouth on Wednesday
