The glory of winning the twenty/20 competition and coming so close in the Plunket Shield is not having much impact on its Ford Trophy campaign as Otago is yet to put a point on the board.
The Volts lost to Wellington on Tuesday and were then beaten by an experienced Canterbury side yesterday, never getting close to a target of 284 after losing too many wickets early.
Otago finished on 177, dismissed in the 39th over.
Canterbury's innings was built around 95 from opener George Worker while the experienced Shanan Stewart chimed in with 75.
Andy Ellis also belted a brisk 44, at better than run-a-ball pace, as the Otago bowlers struggled to contain the home team at Hagley Oval after deciding to bowl first after winning the toss.
James McMillan bowled well for Otago, taking three wickets at a relatively cheap rate.
In reply, Otago lost wickets at regular intervals and, when Iain Robertson failed to put a run on the board, the side did not have a third of the runs required and had six batsmen back in the pavilion.
Captain Derek de Boorder notched a half-century but, when he went for 58, the writing was on the wall for Otago. The Otago side returns home today and will play Northern Districts in Invercargill on Sunday.
Tim Southee's first 50-over half century for Northern Districts was just the ticket to carry his team to a three-wicket win over Auckland, which had earlier made a competitive 290, at Seddon Park yesterday.
New Zealand's test bowling spearhead warmed up for the first test against England next week with an unbeaten 66 off 45 balls to push ND to 294 for seven to win with 10 balls to spare. ND is top of the competition after two rounds.
Test batsman Kane Williamson's run-a-ball 92 had set up the chance for ND.
Earlier, Anaru Kitchen's century, 104 off 100 balls, set up Auckland nicely. Wellington opener Michael Papps, who hit 162 not out in Wellington's win over Otago on Tuesday, took 154 off Central Districts from only 130 balls yesterday in Wellington yesterday. However his 11th domestic one-day ton was not enough as CD got its first points with a 10-run win.
CD's 302 for seven included notable hands from all-rounder Kieran Noema-Barnett and test batsman Ross Taylor, both of whom made 60s.
