Just three days after dismantling Central Districts in Dunedin, they were well beaten by the same opponent in Nelson yesterday.
The Stags claimed a 55-run victory to remain in the playoff race in the Ford Trophy.
Perhaps the key was to bat first — that was the only common theme between the two games.
Just as Otago did on Sunday, Central won the toss and hit the Otago bowling attack all around Saxton Oval.
Three men — George Worker, Ben Smith and Kieran Noema-Barnett — did the damage as Central posted 345 for two off its 50 overs.
In response Otago managed just 290, key early wickets leaving it at 12 for three after six overs.
It was bowled out in the 46th over.
Despite that, the game could not have started better for the Volts.
Nathan Smith claimed the scalp of Greg Hay for a golden duck in the first over, the opener tickling one down the leg side to keeper Mitch Renwick.
Smith nearly had a second not long after when a Ben Smith inside edge narrowly missed leg stump and trickled to fine leg for four.
It was the break Central needed.
Smith and Worker consolidated and began to pile on the runs.
The pair took the Stags to 226 before Worker was bowled dancing down the wicket at a Dean Foxcroft delivery on 99.
Smith had no such problems reaching his century.
He played well off the back foot and scored many of his 15 fours cutting through the off side.
His 149 not out off 151 balls was key, although it was a late cameo from Noema-Barnett that left the Volts struggling.
He smashed 81 runs in a destructive 35 balls.
Included in that were eight sixes, four of which came in four balls from Anaru Kitchen.
The Otago innings could not have been more contrasting.
Its trio Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom and Nick Kelly, which has scored nearly 2000 runs this summer, yielded nothing.
Rutherford was away with New Zealand A and Broom and Kelly both departed for ducks.
Broom went first, being hit on the front pad by an inswinging delivery from Seth Rance on just the second ball.
Renwick followed for three in the sixth over, pulling a Ben Wheeler delivery to Worker at midwicket.
Kelly departed two balls later, edging a pull through to keeper Bayley Wiggins as Wheeler claimed his second scalp.
From there, Foxcroft and Josh Finnie dug in.
They put on 108 runs for the fourth wicket before Finnie edged a ball from Worker to Rance and had to go for 47.
Nathan Smith added 27 before being caught off a mistimed shot by the Worker-Rance combination to leave the Volts 172 for five.
Foxcroft continued to fight for a brilliant 138.
However, aside from 25 from Dale Phillips, he had little support and Otago was bowled out for 290.
Despite the loss, Otago remains in third.
Wellington beat Canterbury to come within a point of the Volts, while Auckland claimed victory over Northern Districts.
