Day three of their first-class game against Auckland at the University Oval was ruined by persistent light rain which hung around until late in the afternoon.
No play was possible which was a rotten result as far as the home team was concerned.
It has been five years since they have won two in a row and they had got themselves into a comfortable position in the match.
The Volts posted 306 for nine declared and Auckland were 10 for one at stumps on Friday night.
Otago remained in the driver’s seat on Saturday thanks to stand-in skipper Dean Foxcroft. He nabbed four for 51 on a pitch which was taking some turn.
Part-time spinner Dale Phillips got in on the action as well.
The right-armer claimed two for eight from three very useful overs as Auckland crumbled to be all out for 190.
Otago was 41 for one at stumps on day two, but yesterday morning dawned wet and they were not able to build on their 158-run lead.
The Volts will need to think creatively today if they are still going to force a result.
Perhaps they might bat for a session and set up a chase.
It was the Otago seamers who got the early reward yesterday.
Matt Bacon picked up the wicket of Louis Delport when the left-arm spinner tried to tonk him down the ground.
The greatly improved Jarrod McKay nicked out Siddhesh Dixit (25) just as he was looking to get going.
Rookie middle order batter Nathan Robinson staged a partnership with opener Will O’Donnell.
They put on 51 for the fourth wicket until Foxcroft intervened.
He got Robinson with a loose delivery down the leg side. The batter took a big swipe but missed and it ballooned from his glove to the keeper Brad Kneebone.
O’Donnell made a blunder on 58.
He had been nice and patient but tried to heave a short delivery from Phillips to the boundary and found the hands of Bacon instead of the rope.
Cam Fletcher went the very next ball. He poked a catch to Jamal Todd who was stationed under the lid at short leg. He bobbled it but regathered.
It was a crucial double breakthrough that left the lower order exposed.
Foxcroft went to work, removing three of the next four.
Otago lost opener Jacob Cumming early.
But Phillips (11 not out) and Todd (16 not out) were set and ready to get on with the job yesterday until the rain cut them off.
Canterbury posted a huge win against Central Districts.
They won by an innings and 132 runs. Cameron Paul claimed his second first-class five-wicket bag to help roll the Stags for 180 in their second innings.
Wellington and Northern Districts are locked in a thriller at the Basin Reserve.
The home team is 227 for seven in their second dig and they need 39 more runs to win today.
OTAGO
First innings 306/9
AUCKLAND
W O'Donnell c Bacon b Phillips 58
L Stackpole b Hazeldine 2
L Delport c Foxcroft b Bacon 12
S Dixit c Phillips b McKay 25
N Robinson c Kneebone b Foxcroft 22
J McKenzie c Kneebone b Foxcroft 46
C Fletcher c Todd b Phillips 0
H Johal c Hazeldine b Foxcroft 7
A Ashok c Todd b McKay 0
D Ferns c Cumming b Foxcroft 5
M Gibson not out 9
Extras (lb 4)4
Total (all out, 79.2 overs)190
Fall: 1-10, 2-31, 3-57, 4-108, 5-135, 6-135, 7-153, 8-154, 9-161, 10-190.
Bowling: M Bacon 14-6-29-1, A Hazeldine 14-7-34-1, J McKay 15-4-36-2, T O'Connor 9-2-28-0, D Foxcroft 24.2-6-51-4, D Phillips 3-0-8-2.
OTAGO
J Cumming c O'Donnell b Gibson 14
D Phillips not out 11
J Todd not out 16
Extras (lb 11
Total (1 wicket, 16 overs)42
Fall: 1-19.
Bowling: D Ferns 5-1-12-0, M Gibson 6-1-17-1, H Johal 2-1-4-0, A Ashok 2-0-8-0, L Delport 1-1-0-0.
