Otago coach Vaughn Johnson was in no mood to make excuses for his side's "embarrassing" capitulation in Lincoln yesterday.
The Volts were dismissed for 63 in their second innings, gifting Central Districts a win by an innings and seven runs.
It was Otago's lowest first-class total in 21 years and Johnson was none too happy.
"I'll keep this fairly simple," he said. "We got into a mental state where CD got on top with a few quick wickets and then we just didn't show enough fight.
"We crumbled simply because we just weren't mentally tough enough. That is something we need to address in the next two or three days."
Cricket is a funny game. Last week Otago was on a high after dismissing Canterbury for 61 in its second innings and recording an unlikely six-wicket win.
This week, it has an extra day to mull over its loss after the Plunket Shield fixture concluded a day early.
"At the end of the day, we just had a very bad morning, embarrassing basically. We can sit and think about it for the next two or three days, or we can sit and think we are one win from two and we have another match coming up."
However, Johnson said he had complete faith in his players and was unlikely to make many changes for Otago's game against Northern Districts beginning at the University Oval on Sunday.
Otago has had worse days with the bat. Yesterday's effort was not even in the "top 20", so to speak.
Its lowest total - 34 - was registered against Wellington at Carisbrook in January 1957.
Otago resumed on 29 for one and trailed Central Districts by 41 runs.
Aaron Redmond lasted just two deliveries before he was bowled by Adam Milne. Neil Broom was trapped leg before wicket in the next over and Craig Cumming, who began the day needing just 12 runs to replace Bert Sutcliffe as the province's leading runs-scorer, fell five runs short of the milestone.
Sam Wells held up an end but lost batting partners at a rapid rate with Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Neil Wagner and Ian Butler combining for just four runs.
Veteran seamer Michael Mason (37) took a career-best six for 20 from 16.3 overs. The right-arm fast bowler had planned to take a back seat in the Plunket Shield this summer but made himself available when injuries ruled out Ben Wheeler, Stevie Smidt and Seth Rance.
Tarun Nethula completed a superb match with three for 18. The leg-spinner took six for 32 in the first innings.
• At Lincoln, Kane Williamson's record-breaking knock was halted on 284 not out, when Northern Districts declared at 608 for nine against Wellington, APNZ reports.
The 21-year-old resumed on 252 and watched his partners disappear at the other end.
Wellington began its second innings 446 runs behind and was bowled out late in the day for 216, as Northern claimed 20 points and won by an innings and 230 runs.
• Martin Guptill became only the fourth Aucklander to carry his bat through an innings as he made an unbeaten 195 during his side's first innings total of 381 in reply to Canterbury's 491 for seven declared at Rangiora.
Guptill (25) had resumed on 121.
Canterbury ended day three on 178 for five, 288 runs ahead.
