The Volts reduced Canterbury to 62 for three when stumps were drawn, after earlier setting the visiting side an imposing chase of 397 to win the Plunket Shield clash.
Canterbury's target already looked a long way off when Leo Carter and Michael Davidson walked out to bat with 23 overs to bat on day three.
Carter did not last long though, playing a false drive to Jacob Duffy which caught the edge and flew to Jimmy Neesham in the slips cordon.
His departure for nine was followed eight overs later by Michael Davidson (seven), who edged Craig to Michael Bracewell at second slip, before Craig really gave the Canterbury batsmen something to think about overnight.
He got the ball to drift outside the line of Chad Bowes' forward defensive prod before gaining enough purchase off the Queens Park turf to snare Bowes' off stump.
Peter Fulton (22) and Ken McClure (four) have a huge task ahead of them today, although there is plenty of batting to come. Andrew Ellis, Todd Astle, Cam Fletcher and Matt Henry are all capable with the bat.
Otago did not waste its 171-run lead when it began its second innings yesterday after a ground delay meant play did not start until midday.
Brad Wilson and Anaru Kitchen put on 40 for the first wicket before Wilson departed for 17.
Kitchen was joined by Michael Bracewell and the pair showed positive intent, putting on 98 runs in 20 overs.
Kitchen was not afraid to go big if required, ramping Hamish Bennett for six behind point, and pulling Andrew Ellis over the midwicket boundary.
Bracewell was bowled by Astle for a well-hit 53 with the score on 138, before Kitchen went 10 runs later for 61.
Neil Broom (31) and Neesham (48) wasted no time building the lead, adding 77 in 13.1 overs before skipper Brad Wilson called time on the innings.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland wrested the advantage back over Central Districts, removing the visiting side's last four wickets for 10 runs before scoring 425 runs in the day including centuries to Jeet Raval (139) and Robbie O'Donnell (100) to take a 382-run lead into the final day.
Northern Districts gained a first-innings lead by dismissing home side Wellington for 352 despite Wellington opener Luke Woodcock reaching 111.
Northern is 85 for one with a 171-run lead. Daniel Flynn is unbeaten on 58.
