Otago has nine wickets in hand going into today's second day of play in its Plunket Shield match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
The visting side bowled Wellington out for 369 within 90 overs on day one yesterday.
In four overs before stumps, Otago lost opener Hamish Rutherford for one run before heading off the Basin at nine for one.
At the start of play, the Otago bowlers made sure Wellington openers Michael Papps and Luke Woodcock did not put on a repeat of the record-breaking partnership in their first-round match against Auckland.
Papps blasted the highest-ever individual Wellington score of 316 and combined with Woodcock for a New Zealand-record opening partnership of 432 in the first innings at the Basin Reserve.
The pair returned to their home ground with hopes of repeating that effort, but Otago bowlers Michael Rae and Neil Wagner soon dashed them.
Woodcock edged a length ball from Wagner straight to Brad Wilson for a regulation first-slip catch in the fifth over to be gone for 11 runs.
Papps was out for 10 six overs later when he chopped a shortish Rae delivery on to his off stump.
That brought former Volt Michael Bracewell to the wicket to face his old team for the first time.
Bracewell and Wellington No3 Stephen Murdoch managed to steady the ship for the home side, laying on a 113-run partnership before Bracewell was tempted by a short ball from Rae.
Bracewell hooked the ball to square leg but did not get enough on it to get the ball to the boundary and was caught by Anaru Kitchen.
Murdoch went on to bring up his century, lreaving Wellington reasonably placed with 200 runs on the board.
However, shortly after, Kitchen took to the crease for a crucial spell of left-arm spin.
He accounted for Wellington batsmen Tom Blundell and Fraser Colson, and snared the crucial wicket of Murdoch who was out for 114.
Otago looked set to clean up the Wellington tail but that did not go to script as the home team edged past 300 runs.
Jeetan Patel blazed six fours and two sixes and formed key seventh and eighth-wicket partnerships with Logan van Beek and Ollie Newton on his way to 64.
All three batsmen eventually fell to Wagner, while Rae grabbed a late wicket by bowling tailender Ian McPeake.
Otago opener Rutherford swatted a pinpoint short delivery from opening bowler Hamish Bennett to the offside where it was caught by Fraser Colson.
Neil Broom is misssing the match for personal reasons but is expected to be back for round three.
Jesse Ryder will resume on 165 not out for Central Districts which is 395 for six going into day two of its match against Auckland at Saxton Oval in Nelson.
Canterbury will take to Mainpower Oval in Rangiora today at 289 for two at the start of day two of its match against Northern Districts.
