Otago's lower order did its best to slog its way to victory, but the steep run chase proved out of reach.
Northern Districts plundered 224 runs from just 30 overs in a rain-affected one-day match at Queens Park in Invercargill yesterday.
Needing seven and a-half runs an over, Otago tried desperately to stay in touch with the run rate but lost wickets at crucial times.
The home side was eventually dismissed for 205 on the first ball of the last over.
While Neil Broom was at the wicket, Otago looked on target.
He has made a glorious start to the summer and top-scored with 58.
But when he was caught at the wicket by a sharp catch from Peter McGlashan, the cause looked lost.
Some lusty blows by the tail gave the visitor some anxious moments and reduced the margin of defeat.
Pakistan bowling all-rounder Yasir Arafat got some of his own back, smashing 31 off 14 deliveries, and No 10 batsman Neil Wagner swatted 15 runs from six deliveries.
The Volts needed an improbable 20 runs to win from the last over with one wicket in hand.
But Anthony Bullick was not able to supply the magic, offering a catch from Tim Southee's first ball.
Earlier, test opener BJ Watling and Anton Devcich got the visitor off to a rapid start.
Devcich, in particular, was brutal, smashing 50 off just 31 deliveries.
His innings included six fours and two sixes.
The pair shared in an opening stand of 78 before Devcich was bowled on 52 by Bullick.
Arafat bore the brunt of Devcich's assault and experienced seamer Warren McSkimming also got blasted out of the attack his two overs cost 25 runs.
Watling was not as savage as Devcich but his innings of 58 was every bit as valuable.
He rotated the strike beautifully and dispatched the ball to the boundary when he got the opportunity.
McGlashan picked up where Devcich left off, whacking 50 from 37 deliveries.
In Palmerston North, English import Ravi Bopara continued justifying his acquisition by Auckland with a timely century before an undermanned Central Districts could not quite execute its chase plan yesterday.
Auckland claimed the four competition points at Fitzherbert Park, winning by 20 runs on the back of Bopara's first hundred for the province and fast bowler Michael Bates' impressive four wicket haul for 27 from 9.1 overs.
Set 247 for victory, Central Districts petered out on 226 for nine with five balls remaining after Brendon Diamanti was unable to bat due to injury.
Iain O'Brien's final farewell to New Zealand fell flat at his beloved Basin Reserve yesterday as the retirement-bound fast bowler's efforts were negated by a former international team-mate and a player of the future.
Hoping to sign off from Wellington in style after his final test against Pakistan ended in a rain affected draw at Napier on Tuesday, O'Brien instead leaves for England unfulfilled after Canterbury cruised to a 140-run victory.
Set a stiff 280 to protect its status as competition leaders, Wellington was bundled out for 139 in the 37th over - hardly a fitting send off for O'Brien, who was appropriately the pick of the home side's attack with two for 45 from 10 overs.
However, that analysis was trumped by Chris Martin, whose opening spell of two for 14 from six overs ensured Wellington was on the back foot from the outset.
