The Volts had won 11 consecutive games in the HRV Cup but came unstuck at the University Oval on Saturday night, losing to Northern Districts by nine runs.
The visitors posted a challenging 183 for six, thanks to fine innings from captain Daniel Flynn (57 from 48) and Australian Daniel Harris, whose hard-hit 68 from 37 deliveries took Northern's total beyond what Otago was comfortable chasing.
Brad Wilson also played a useful hand with 27 from 18 at the top.
Harris looked all class. He combined power with some wonderful shots to construct an impressive innings which featured four sixes, three fours and precious few dot balls.
Fellow Australian Ben Laughlin helped seal the victory with some frugal bowling.
The 31-year-old seamer conceded just 20 runs from his allotment of four overs and took the key wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate.
His effort was made even more meritorious considering he was labouring into a stiff breeze.
That was perhaps where Northern won the game. It bowled into the wind better and was more disciplined, with just the one wide from former Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori, who has recently returned to cricket after a lengthy spell on the sideline with a troublesome Achilles.
''Bowling into the wind was always going to be a tough ask and luckily Ben Laughlin stood up and gave us four very good overs,'' Flynn said.
''We used Vettori and Graeme Aldridge as well and I was pretty lucky with the options I had.''
Vettori, who declined to be interviewed, had a steady night at the bowling crease, with none for 32 from four. He was outshone by fellow spinner Jonathan Boult, though, who bowled two very tidy overs for six runs and ran out Jesse Ryder (19) with a fortunate, or perhaps deliberate, deflection on to the stumps following a straight drive from Aaron Redmond.
That was a turning point in the game. Ryder had made a scratchy start but was just starting to adjust to the pace of the pitch.
''It is sort of difficult to single someone out but we were well aware of how big a wicket Jesse is, so it was a fortunate way to get him,'' Flynn said.
Ryder's dismissal came four deliveries after Neil Broom holed out following a brilliant knock of 45 from 31. Broom used his feet well and hit down the ground magnificently.
With two new batsmen at the crease, Otago's run chase lost momentum.
When ten Doeschate miscued on 42 from 30 deliveries, the escape hatch was welded shut. Aaron Redmond tried valiantly to find the boundary and a late flurry in the final over saw Otago trim the gap.
Redmond whacked the last two deliveries for six and finished unbeaten on 50 from 31.
