Otago left the fight late, but they can take away some goodwill from the eight-wicket loss to Central Districts in Napier yesterday.
A quick glance at the scoreboard will reveal a comfortable win to the Stags in three days.
The Volts did not bat anywhere near well enough. They were rolled for 203 and 186.
They had their moments with the ball, but Dane Cleaver struck an unbeaten 151 in the Stags’ first innings to set up the victory.
Volts coach Ashley Noffke can be proud of the effort Otago put in after lunch yesterday.
They were 72 for seven at the break and faced an innings defeat.
But wicketkeeper Max Chu (66) and all-rounder Jake Gibson (62 not out) showed some resolve.
The pair put on an Otago record partnership for the ninth wicket against Central Districts.
They added 108, which eclipsed the previous mark of 92 set by Lance Cairns and Don McKechnie at Carisbrook in January 1977.
They batted lower in the order than normal because Otago had opted to use two nightwatchman. But it is in the record books.
Chu notched 85 in the first innings and was the standout for the Volts.
Otago resumed yesterday morning at three for two.
Debutant Hunter Kindley was at the wicket with the nightwatchman Jarrod McKay.
Kindley worked hard to preserve his wicket and batted for nearly an hour.
But on four he tried to cut a delivery from Blair Tickner and dragged it on to his stumps.
Dale Phillips (3) went in the next over. He got an edge to second slip.
McKay did his very best to hold his end up, but he failed to connect with a defensive shot and was bowled for six by Tickner.
The right-armer beat him for pace and picked up a third wicket when he nicked off Luke Georgeson for 11. The Otago captain did not seem entirely convinced judging by his body language, but the Volts had slumped to 29 for six.
Llew Johnson and Leo Carter came and went.
The fight back was left to Chu and Gibson.
Their show of character was the only real highlight in a disappointing day for the Volts.
The visitors managed to get 30 runs ahead but it only delayed the inevitable, although the Stags lost both openers during the brief chase.
■Auckland bounced back from a 86-run deficit in the first innings to snatch a 54-run win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve. Danru Ferns (three for 40), Simon Keene (two for 28) and Sean Solia (two for six) shared the wickets to dismiss the home team for 177 and secure the victory.
■Northern Districts have moved into a commanding position in their match with Canterbury at Hagley Oval.
They bowled out Canterbury for 193, which left them chasing 203 to win. They were 74 for one at stumps.
OTAGO
First innings 203
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
First innings 359
OTAGO
Second innings
T Parkes c Cleaver b Lennox 0
H Kindley not out 3
T Muller c Toole b Schmulian 0
J McKay b Tickner 6
D Phillips c Bruce b Toole 3
L Georgeson c Cleaver b Tickner 11
L Carter c Cleaver b Toole 17
L Johnson c Schaw b Lennox 5
M Chu c Schmulian b Lennox 66
J Gibson not out 62
Z Cumming b Schmulian 0
Extras (10b, 1w, 1nb) 12
Total (all out, 79.5 overs) 186
Fall: 1/0, 2/1, 3/12, 4/15, 5/25, 6/29, 7/44, 8/77,
9/185
Bowling: J Lennox 29-9-49-3, A Schaw 6-1-13-0,
B Schmulian 7.5-1-26-2, B Tickner 15-4-40-3 (1w),
R Toole 14-7-18-2, W Clark 4-0-17-0 (1nb), T Bruce
4-0-13-0.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
Second innings
C Heaphy c Carter b Muller 5
J Boyle c&b McKay 12
B Schmulian not out 8
T Bruce not out 4
Extras (2lb) 2
Total (for 2 wkts, 10.4 overs) 31
Fall: 1/5, 2/27.
Bowlers: J McKay 5.4-1-16-1, T Muller 5-3-13-1.
Result: Central Districts won by eight wickets.
