The Volts will look back on their 37-run loss to Central Districts in Nelson yesterday knowing they let it slip away.
Otago did well to restrict Central to 269 for seven after it looked as if the home side was on track for a score of 300-plus.
Co-captain Mark Craig (one for 40) helped peg the Stags back with a key wicket of Ben Smith for 93.
The batsman will be bitterly disappointed to have hit such a simple return catch when he was closing on his first one-day hundred. Still, he combined with fellow opener Greg Hay (82) in a tremendous 167-run stand.
But the wicket ushered in a change of fortune for the Stags, who were down on batting power in the absence of New Zealand A players George Worker, Will Young and Dane Cleaver.
Matt Bacon (two for 56) picked up late wickets to ensure Otago was not chasing too many. Michael Rippon and Nathan Smith grabbed two apiece as well.
Everyone in the top half of the Volts batting line up got a decent start but could not go on.
Mitch Renwick made a breezy 25. Hamish Rutherford showed patience in his knock of 28. But they were out hooking and then the danger man, Neil Broom, danced down the wicket but missed and was promptly stumped by debutant Ma'ava Ave for 35.
That was a blow with a battle axe but the momentum shifted to the visitors when Kitchen and Finnie were at the wicket. Finnie swatted a rapid half century featuring some big hitting, while Kitchen was more circumspect.
The pair added 64 for the fifth wicket. With the run-rate under control and wickets in hand, the Volts appeared well-placed to post their opening victory this season.
But Kitchen's demise on 32 was followed quickly by a rash shot from Finnie, which proved his undoing on 63. He tried to scoop Kieran Noema-Barnett over the keeper but was bowled.
''You lose three wickets in three overs towards the back end of the game and you are not going to get over the line like that,'' coach Rob Walter said.
''Josh did a great job to get the run rate under control but, with due respect, someone in that top five needed to go through with him.
''All of the top order got starts and at least one of them should have kicked on.''
Otago slumped from 194 for four to be all out for 232.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington opener Andrew Fletcher guided his side to a seven-wicket win against Canterbury with an undefeated century in his one-day debut.
He whacked 15 fours and a six in his knock of 132 to help his side overhaul Canterbury's total of 286.
In the other game yesterday, Sean Solia led Auckland to a tense two-wicket win against Northern Districts at Eden Park. The left-hander smashed 133 not out from 138 deliveries as his side eclipsed Northern's total of 268 with just two balls to spare.
