Otago has wrestled back some momentum in its Plunket Shield fixture with Wellington at the Queenstown Events Centre.
The visiting side was 280 for seven at stumps on day one. Volts coach Nathan King described the game situation as evenly poised but his side did well to rally after Wellington had reached 203 for three.
But in
a dramatic five-minute period, with stumps in sight, Wellington lost three wickets.
"In that last session they were starting to get the upper hand, but three late wickets got us back in this game,'' King said.
The mini collapse began with Fraser Colson, who was run out for 20. He called yes but his partner sent him back and he did not make it.
Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder whipped the bails off but Neil Wagner made the throw and it sparked something in the left-armer.
He took two wickets in the next over, trapping Alecz Day in front for a two-ball duck and then bowling Anurag Verma before he could get on the scoreboard.
Earlier, Wellington opener Michael Papps set a solid platform with 85.
He brought up 3000 runs for Wellington during the innings but the former Cantabrian was denied what would have been his 29th first-class century.
His dismissals was a little strange, really.
He just waved his bat at a benign delivery from Jimmy Neesham and feathered an edge through to the keeper.
A disappointing departure from a player of his vast experience.
Former England international Scott Borthwick held the innings together with an unbeaten century - his 11th first-class 100.
He guided the odd deliver wide of the slips but sprung into pull shots quickly and got some nice cuts shots away.
He will resume on 102 today with Dane Hutchinson, who is yet to score.
Wagner, who was yesterday named in the Black Caps test side for the series against Australia, has taken four for 69 and will be hunting his 21st five-wicket bag.
Mark Craig was overlooked for the test series but the off-spinner got through 15 tidy overs.
In Napier, Northern Districts posted 268.
At Hagley Oval, Canterbury scored 294 with Auckland 10 for one in reply at stumps.
