The 31-year-old opening batsman took over the captaincy reins when regular skipper Craig Cumming, who has a badly sprained finger, was forced to pull out of Otago's one-day game against Auckland at Centennial Park in Oamaru yesterday.
In a tense, low-scoring fixture, Redmond played what proved to be a match-winning innings.
He compiled a patient 66 to help his side secure a two-wicket win. Just the sort of stuff you want from the captain.
He also won the toss and put Auckland in on a bowler-friendly surface in front of a small crowd of 180.
A few hiccups aside, most things went well for Redmond in his first day in the job. But the experienced campaigner admitted he had a few nerves.
"It was always going to be tough to fill the boots of one of Otago's greatest cricketers," Redmond said.
"But I sat down with him this morning and he ran me over a few things. It was very exciting."
Auckland lost wickets steadily and could only muster 199.
Gareth Hopkins (31), Greg Todd (19) and Colin de Grandhomme (28) all got set but could not go on with it.
Otago, for the most part, bowled well and exploited the conditions. Some cloud cover helped the ball move in the air and there was some assistance from the pitch all day. But perhaps the turning point came when former Otago batsman Todd was run out.
The big left-hander had looked to be timing the ball nicely when he was needlessly dismissed.
He had forged a promising stand of 36 for the fourth wicket with Hopkins and both batsmen looked in good touch.
Hopkins set off for a quick single but changed his mind late in the piece.
Todd was committed, shed valuable seconds turning around and lost the race back.
English import Darren Stevens threw down the stumps.
Auckland had opportunities to rebuild but that looked to be the partnership which offered the most resistance.
Oamaru-born Craig Smith continued his development with another fine effort at the bowling crease.
The left armer has played second fiddle to fellow lefty Neil Wagner in recent seasons but has grabbed every opportunity this summer.
He took two for 24 from six overs, nicking out dangerous opener Jeet Raval and sneaking a delivery under Anaru Kitchen's bat.
The 26-year-old also made a valuable contribution with the bat.
He joined Derek de Boorder when Otago's innings was teetering at 172 for eight and got a huge roar from his team-mates when he swung a short delivery from Colin Munro over the fine leg boundary for six. It relieved a lot of tension.
De Boorder showed great maturity batting with the tail and his undefeated 29 was priceless for the Volts.
Honorable mentions for Stevens and Nick Beard. The pair picked up three wickets apiece.
It was pleasing to see Beard get some reward in the wickets' column.
The left arm spinner has been toiling away in the middle overs, doing a wonderful job of keeping the run rate in check, while wickets have tumbled at the other end.
Not everything went to plan in the field for Otago. The Volts were guilty of bowling 19 wides and all-rounder Ian Butler was particularly loose.
He used up all his luck with his first delivery, a long hop which Lou Vincent attempted to deposit over midwicket for six. But got a faint under edge through to the keeper. Thereafter, Butler's day went downhill fast.
He bowled too short and too wide and was punished. He completed a miserable match when he was trapped leg before wicket for a first-ball duck.
The win lifted Otago to top of the points table.
