The Volts lost 15 wickets in a day last week but upped the ante against Auckland yesterday, losing five wickets in about an hour before recovering fractionally to reach 83 for five at Eden Park Outer Oval.
The game had started so promisingly, with Volts debutant Warren Barnes taking a wicket with just his second ball in first-class cricket.
He finished with four for 36 in an impressive effort to help dismiss Auckland for 213.
The home side had slumped to 52 for five, so getting past 200 was a mighty effort.
Its middle order of Ben Horne (56 from 88), Michael Barry (51 from 87) and Matt McEwan (41 not out from 49 deliveries) rescued their side with a bold counterattack.
Michael Rae proved expensive during that period, but Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner ripped through the tail to finish with three for 42, while wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder grabbed five catches.
The visitor had lost momentum but was still well-placed until Lockie Ferguson happened.
The Black Caps right-arm strike bowler, who was playing despite fracturing a bone in his hand last week, produced some potent deliveries in a devastating eight over spell for the Aces.
Brad Wilson was first up. He got a lethal delivery which jagged back and hit the top of middle and off. The batsman had shouldered arms in expectation it would pass harmlessly outside off.
Rob Nicol got a cracking yorker the very next ball. He lost balance trying to keep it out was struck on the pad in front of the stumps.
Hamish Rutherford threw his wicket away shortly after. He hit a hook shot straight up in the air and became rookie left-armer Ben Lister's maiden first-class scalp.
Then Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham got brutal bouncers from Ferguson, leaving their side 54 for five.
Ferguson had taken four for 12, but thankfully needed a rest. De Boorder (14) and Anaru Kitchen (15) were able to guide Otago through to stumps without further calamity.
Central Districts have got into a commanding position in its match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval.
Openers George Worker (111) and Grey Hay (140) put on 188 for the first wicket to help the visitor reach 326 for three at stumps on day one.
Competition leader Wellington has made a solid start against Northern Districts at Seddon park. It is 322 for seven at stumps.
Top order batsman Stephen Murdoch top-scored with 97, while veteran seamer Brent Arnel has three for 61.
