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Kaikorai stunned defending champion Albion with a two-wicket win at Culling Park in the first upset of the summer.
Hard-hitting batsman Iain Robertson scored 52 from 35 deliveries when the chase was perhaps in the balance, and Ryan Duffy (51) and Rhys Bayly (39) helped set up the victory with solid efforts.
Duffy also made an impact with the ball, snaring three scalps.
But it was Geordie Scott (three for 20) who initially helped swing the game Kaikorai's way.
He replaced Ricky Black at the bowling crease after Black had sent down a second beamer.
Albion had made a very promising start with Roald Badenhorst and Taylor Cumberland (30) putting on 105 for the first wicket.
Scott removed both batsmen with his medium pace seamers.
Cumberland had been under some pressure but Badenhorst was in devastating touch, whacking 65 from as many deliveries.
Daniel Duke made 50 but Kaikorai did well to restrict Albion to 243 for nine.
Robertson injected some momentum into the chase with a flurry of boundaries before he was undone.
Bowler Michael Fraser hit an enormous six at the death and debutant James Logie hung around to help see his side to victory.
Albion seamer Josh Cuttance bowled well for his three for 41, while Otago spinner Nick Beard got plenty out of his remodelled action, taking two for 57.
Taieri 204 for nine lost to North East Valley 205 for six.
Taieri may have fared a lot better had former Black Cap Neil Broom not been in the North East Valley line-up.
It is probably the last time the classy right-hander will front for the club this summer and he made his appearance a memorable one, compiling a fine century.
He drove down the ground magnificently during his stay of 111 and his 92-run partnership with Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder (47) proved instrumental in Valley's four-wicket win at Bayfield Park.
Earlier, Taieri made a good start with Josh Tasman-Jones adding 44 in his debut game for the club and fellow opener Toby Batchelor contributing 39.
Veteran seamer Jamie Murley helped slow Taieri's momentum with one for 23 from 10 overs, and Keegan Harrison (three for 36) and Otago contracted quick Sam Blakely (two for 35) bowled well in their return spells.
With Broom at the crease, Valley always had the chase in hand, but Regan Flaws worked up some good pace on debut and bowled Otago contracted batsman Anaru Kitchen with a fine delivery, and also accounted for opener Tom Griffin.
Spinner Ben Murrow, also on debut, made the most of his opportunity with three for 22.
He eventually claimed the wicket of Broom and bowled de Boorder.
Carisbrook-Dunedin 91 lost to Green Island 93 for twoGreen Island did not get much of a workout at Sunnyvale, when it thrashed a disappointing Carisbrook-Dunedin by eight wickets.
Veteran seamers Dion Lobb and Bradley Scott got among the wickets.
Scott took four for 20 and Lobb two for 10 as Carisbrook-Dunedin collapsed to be all out for 91.
There was a lot of early season cricket about the way Carisbrook-Dunedin batted.
The feet were not moving like they will in a week or two and the judgement was astray as well. Several players tried to hit across the line and paid the price.
Scott and Lobb functioned well as a duo, as Lobb took the ball away from the right-handers and Scott got it to shape back in.
But, generally, the pair bowled nice and straight and built pressure that way.
Nik Swain played positively and top-scored with 35. He hit spinner Mark Joyce for 20 in one over.
His side was eight down at that stage and he had little left to lose.
Former Northern Districts captain Brad Wilson helped make the chase a breeze with an unbeaten 38 on debut for Green Island.
Carisbrook-Dunedin left-armer Chris Ware did his best to pressure Green Island's batting line-up with a tidy 10 overs.