It had to come eventually but Otago has finally lost a twenty20 match - albeit a warm-up game.
The Volts won 10 consecutive games to claim the HRV Cup last season. That earned them a spot in a qualifying tournament for the Champions League in India next month.
But in Tauranga yesterday, a combined team made up of New Zealand and Northern Districts got the better of the Volts by five runs.
Corey Anderson smashed 62 from 34 deliveries and Dean Brownlie added 46 from 28 deliveries to help their side post 170 for eight.
Left-armer Neil Wagner took three for 24 and fellow lefty Blair Soper took two for eight from one action-packed over.
Otago's reply got off to a terrible start. Opening batsman Neil Broom was struck on the hand and had to retire hurt.
''He went to hospital for an X-ray but he has been cleared [of a fracture],'' Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said.
Otago was restricted to 165 for four. Iain Robertson top-scored with 67 from 42 deliveries and Michael Bracewell made an undefeated 36.
''I suppose we just got tied down a little bit through the middle when Ish Sodhi was bowling.''
The 20-year-old legspinner took three for 13 from four overs.
''We probably played him with a bit too much respect but he bowled really well.''
Johnson was delighted with the bowling performance, though. The bowling unit was asked to concentrate on spearing in yorkers.
''We wanted to have every ball hit the hole so that when guys need to bring that out, and when they are in trouble in a game, they can go to that,'' he said.
Otago leads the series with two wins from three games. The teams are scheduled to play another match today and one tomorrow.
