But it was the bowlers who laid the groundwork for the victory at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Northern Districts was restricted to a below-par 157 for five. Black Caps test left-armer Neil Wagner helped keep the home side tied down with three for 22 and Warren Barnes proved difficult to get way, with one for 18.
The Volts reached the target with 2.3 overs to spare. Broom hit a six to win the game and raised a half-century in the process.
His innings of 54 from 41 deliveries was a reminder of how sorely he will be missed when he returns the Black Caps line-up later this month, after a six-year absence.
Bracewell played an instrumental role, as well, with 41 from 27 deliveries, and opener Hamish Rutherford got the chase off to a rapid start with 39 from 24.
The win has lifted Otago to two wins from four games.
"It certainly wasn’t the complete performance but we are happy to get over the line quite comfortably," coach Rob Walter said.
"We gave away a bit of momentum but managed to pull it back at the end. Neil Wagner was outstanding at the death."
The Volts made a rapid start to the run chase, as Black Caps left-armer Trent Boult went for 16 in the first over.
Mitchell Santner was not feeling any love either. Rutherford shimmied down the wicket and clouted him for a six and a couple of fours.
The third member of the Black Caps test bowling line-up, Tim Southee, fared a little better. But the Volts had 50 in sight after four overs and Rutherford kept the pressure on, slashing a delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn for another boundary.
Broom’s arrival at the crease brought a sense of calm. The 33-year-old right-hander pushed the ball into the gaps and warmed into his innings.
Bracewell had a life on 19 when he employed the reverse sweep and hit it straight at Southee. But otherwise the pair had the innings under control.
Earlier, BJ Watling got the scoreboard moving in the second over with back-to-back fours, before Wagner found the edge of his bat.
Northern recovered from the early loss of the Black Caps keeper and Dean Brownlie and Tim Seifert played good, steady cricket to get their side through to 41 for one after six overs.
The pair could have utilised the power play better and perhaps that contributed to Brownlie’s dismissal. He charged a delivery from Anaru Kitchen, missed and was stumped.
It was a big wicket for the Volts but it also brought Corey Anderson to the crease. The powerful left-hander struggled early, as Barnes pinned him down.
Seifert released the pressure valve when he hoicked Bradley Scott for two sixes. It was not pretty but it was effective and the over cost Otago 19 runs.
With eight wickets in hand at the halfway point, Northern was well-placed to accelerate.
Seifert had got through to 41 and launched again. But this time he got a thick edge which flew to Kitchen. He leapt high and intercepted the ball half a metre inside the rope, at third man. It was a stunning catch but, with Anderson still at the crease, a big threat still remained. Santner came and went, clubbing 19 from 10, but Anderson never really got going. Wagner nicked him out for 39 just as he was looking to really open his shoulders.
●Central Districts middle-order batsman Tom Bruce flayed 74 from 41 to help his side reach 181 for five at Saxton Oval in Nelson. Wellington came up nine runs short and is winless after four games.
In Auckland, Canterbury was dismissed for 150 with Tarun Nethula taking four for 18. Auckland struggled early but an unbeaten 72 by Colin de Grandhomme got the side home by five wickets.
