Wellington has set Otago a mammoth 391 to win after it posted 282 for eight declared in its second innings at the Queenstown Events Centre yesterday.
At stumps on day three, the Volts are 13 for one and need a further 378 runs to claim an unlikely victory.
The task ahead could have been much worse had it not been for the efforts of Craig, who was recently overlooked for the test team. He took five for 79 from 35 overs to help limit the damage.
Wellington actually slumped to 182 for seven but a 100-run stand between Fraser Colson and Anurag Verma (33 not out) enabled the visiting side to reassert itself.
Opener Brad Wilson was trapped lbw for nought before stumps which was a big setback for Otago. But Volts coach Nathan King believes there is still hope.
‘‘We still have a chance,'' King said.
‘‘It is only around four an over and we are capable of scoring at that rate. We just need a couple of guys to score big and a few substantial partnerships and we are a chance.''
Otago was potentially looking at a much smaller chase had it not been the damaging eight-wicket stand by Colson and Verma.
‘‘We bowled well to them but credit to that guy, Colson. He batted really nicely. He deserved that score he got but it was a shame we could not break that partnership.
‘‘[Craig] bowled beautifully. That is the best I've seen him bowl for us, so it was great to see.''
Earlier, Wellington extended its first-innings lead of 108 runs, openers Papps and Luke Woodcock adding 60 for the first wicket.
Left-armer Craig Smith secured the breakthrough, nicking out Woodcock for 28. Then Craig struck twice, removing the twin threats of Stephen Murdoch for nine and Scott Borthwick for a duck.
Wellington went to lunch at 98 for three, an overall lead of 206, and Papps undefeated on 55. He could not get re-established after the break, feathering an edge off the bowling of Craig for 60.
Neil Broom grabbed a catch in close to help remove Tom Blundell and de Boorder caught Alecz Day to help Craig complete his fifth first-class five-wicket bag.
On Saturday, Wellington resumed on 280 for seven. Century-maker Borthwick (102) was unable to add to his overnight score but Dane Hutchinson (30) and Matthew Bacon (23) helped the visiting team reach 348.
Neil Wagner (five for 101) claimed his 21st first-class five-wicket bag when he nicked out Bacon.
Otago's reply got off to a promising start with Hamish Rutherford and Wilson putting on 67 for the first wicket, but the Volts lost two quick wickets and then neither Broom (27) or Jimmy Neesham (24) could cash in on their starts.
Rutherford's 70 and Sam Wells' knock of 51 provided the backbone of Otago's disappointing total of 240.
Veteran medium pacer Brent Arnel (five for 59) dismissed Otago's top three and helped polish off the tail to complete his 13th five-wicket bag.
