Otago needed six from the last ball to force a super over the last time it played Central Districts.
The Volts were only able to manage a single but those extra five runs could have come from anywhere.
Michael Bracewell dropped a simple chance when Mahela Jayawardene was on 20. The former Sri Lankan international went on to post 62.
Neil Wagner got carted for three fours from the last three balls of Central's innings.
Josh Finnie spent almost an over swinging hard without really connecting, and Anaru Kitchen got himself needlessly run out.
They were little mistakes on their own, but combined they added up to a below-par performance.
Otago rebounded two days later to dispatch Northern Districts by eight wickets. On that occasion, the Volts got more of those moments right. Kitchen took an acrobatic catch, Wagner bowled a miserly final over and recalled Black Cap Neil Broom paced the chase brilliantly.
Volts captain Hamish Rutherford felt his side got all three aspects of the game - batting, bowling and fielding - right and will go into this afternoon's rematch with Central with renewed confidence.
''We were definitely able to string together a proper performance [against Northern Districts],'' Rutherford, who acknowledged his side's from had been patchy at best, said.
''I wouldn't say there is a glaring reason why. I just think it is one of those things.''
Translation - the Volts have blundered as often as they have shone.
Rutherford's own form belongs more in the former camp. However, he blazed 39 from 24 deliveries against Northern Districts to help get Otago's chase off to a rapid start.
''It was nice to get the team off to a start and contribute to a good batting performance and a win. I'm hitting it well so, hopefully, I can turn up [today] and do the same.''
Rutherford has replaced Nathan McCullum as the Volts T20 captain this season.
McCullum's leadership proved instrumental in helping the Volts reach the final last summer. The experienced offspinner knew which levers to pull and when, but Rutherford is still adapting to the role.
''Obviously there is some experienced players in the team so it is quite good to bounce ideas off them.''
The fast pace of the game means you need a good blueprint to get through and Rutherford is hesitant to change tactics too much.
''The batsmen are allowed to play a good shot and that is something we've been communicating with the bowlers. You might bowl a good ball and it goes for six, whereas you might miss your length and get a wicket.
''Things can change but you should try to stick to the game plan as much as possible.''
Pukekura Park is set up for players who like to hit the ball square to the short boundary. But it is also a venue where players can get ''excited'' and ''think they can hit each ball for six, so that presents opportunities''.
The match shapes as a key game for Otago. The Volts (8 points) are in third place with two wins from four games, while Central (14 points) is in second place with three wins from three completed games.
Auckland (16 points) is at the top with four wins from four games, while Canterbury (8 points), Northern Districts (6 points) and the winless Wellington fill the bottom three places.
Otago has named an unchanged side, while Central has brought in medium pacer Navin Patel for opener Ben Smith.
