Left-arm spinner Roneel Hira has reinvented himself as a top-order batsman for Canterbury and posted his maiden first-class hundred yesterday.
The former Aucklander got out the very next ball but will feel content having scored 100 from 124 balls and having also combined in 120-run stand for the second wicket with Peter Fulton (37).
At stumps on day two in Rangiora, Canterbury was 176 for three in reply to Otago's first innings total of 369.
Hira whacked 15 fours and a six during his two and a-half hour stay at the crease.
The 27-year-old left-hander began his career with Auckland as bowler and played 15 twenty20 internationals for the Black Caps in 2012 and 2013.
He transferred to Canterbury in 2012-13 and appears to be following in the footsteps of the likes of Mark Richardson and Aaron Redmond - spinners who opted for a career change at the top of the batting order.
Earlier, Otago resumed at 117 for one with Redmond on 59 and Michael Bracewell on 32.
Redmond was in positive mood, adding a further 12 to his total before he was bowled by Andrew Ellis in just the third over of the day.
That brought Brendon McCullum to the crease for his first bat for the province in first-class cricket since November 2011.
He combined in a useful 71-run stand and Otago was building nicely until legspinner Todd Astle had the New Zealand captain caught in the covers for 33 and removed Brad Rodden three balls later.
When Bracewell (73) holed out a few overs later, Otago had collapsed from 205 for two to 218 for five.
Astle had picked up three quick wickets and the Otago innings was suddenly teetering.
Black Caps spinner Mark Craig scored his maiden first-class hundred on Sunday and showed again just how valuable he is with the bat, adding 65 and combining in a couple of fighting partnerships with Derek de Boorder and Neil Wagner.
No 11 Michael Rae crunched 36 runs from 22 balls to help lift the Volts past 350.
Canterbury's reply hit an early bump when Greg Dawson was run out for eight, with the score on 28.
But Hira and Fulton set about establishing a solid base. Neil Broom (12 not out) and Henry Nicholls (6 not out) will resume this morning.
Jacob Duffy was perhaps the pick of the Otago bowlers, with none for 14 from eight overs.
He has been struggling with his rhythm this season but may just be starting to come right.
