Call it a missed opportunity but Otago did not bat well enough to overhaul Wellington's middling total of 264 at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.
A bonus-point win would have enabled the Volts to claim top spot in the competition but they slumped to be all out for 203.
The 61-run defeat has left Otago in third place on 13 points with three round-robin matches remaining.
Central Districts leads the competition with 17 points from Auckland (15), Northern Districts (12), Wellington (five) and Canterbury (four).
The top four sides progress through to the playoffs, so the Volts are still well-placed. But Otago captain Aaron Redmond said his side would need to re-group for Wednesday's home match against Canterbury, following a disappointing effort with the bat.
''The formula we've used in the previous games in chasing those totals is we are looking to keep wickets in hands and building a real solid foundation. But as you can see we never did that.
''We never got any partnerships and we left a big job to the lower order, so we didn't really earn the right to win the game.''
There were some highlights for the visiting side. Black Caps test seamer Neil Wagner bowled well, picking up his second one-day five-wicket bag.
He finished with five for 39 and claimed the key wicket of James Franklin. Franklin was actually his 100th one-day wicket so that was double the cause for celebration.
All-rounder Sam Wells continued his strong form taking two for 52. Jimmy Neesham produced a frugal spell in his return to domestic cricket but Jacob Duffy got collared, going for more than seven runs an over.
Stephen Murdoch was the star for Wellington with a fine knock of 123. It was his third one-day hundred and it accounted for almost half of the Firebirds' runs. He passed 1000 career one-day runs during the innings and featured in two significant partnerships.
He combined with Michael Pollard in a 79-run stand for the second wicket and in a 95-run stand with Franklin. They formed the spine of what Redmond felt was a very attainable target.
''[Wagner] bowled extremely well. He hits his lengths and took some valuable wickets up front and came back and took a couple of poles again.
''So at the halfway point, chasing 260, I thought that was below par.''
Otago's reply faltered early with Wells, Michael Bracewell, Hamish Rutherford all getting a sighter before perishing.
Veteran seamer Brent Arnel accounted for two of the three and bowled well, finishing with four for 33.
Redmond, who dropped down the order to No 4 to accommodate the returning Rutherford, added a fighting 64 and Derek de Boorder chipped in with 33 as the Volts looked to battle back from 56 for four.
Neesham's return also caused a shuffle in the order but Redmond did not feel it had proven disruptive.
''Not really. I've played enough cricket to be able to fit into any position, really. There is no difference for me, so it definitely was not disruptive. The problem was the top order did not take up the challenge and get the runs.''
