Otago all-rounder Nathan Smith's services might have been better deployed in Auckland for the Volts this weekend.
But he was given the match off and played club cricket instead.
North East Valley will be cursing its rotten luck because Smith dragged Carisbrook-Dunedin through to a six-wicket win with a stunning effort with both the ball and bat at Tonga Park on Saturday.
The right-armer took six for 24 to help dismiss Valley for 203. He was then called to make a major contribution with the bat.
The chase started very poorly and Carisbrook-Dunedin was 18 for three after seven overs.
But Smith, who looks every bit the top order player, took control with an undefeated 82 from 99 balls to help secure the six-wicket win with nine overs to spare.
He found willing support partners in Jack Pryde (69) and Anjas Bhogal (43 not out).
The Volts could have certainly used Smith's skills. Otago crashed to an innings defeat against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval on Saturday. Smith was rested, despite not having a particularly arduous twenty20 campaign.
For Valley, Travis Muller had a pretty decent match. He scored 45 and took one for 35 from nine overs, while New Zealand indoor cricket representative Corey Perrett struck nine fours in an crisp innings of 58.
Taieri 271 for eight beat Kaikorai 239
Regan Flaws put in a solid shift with the ball and clouted a rapid 48 to help Taieri secured a 32-run win.
Kaikorai had its chances at Brooklands Park on Saturday.
It took the early wicket of Clint Hayward but Beckham Wheeler-Greenall anchored the innings with a patient 65 to help create a platform for the likes of Flaws, who smashed four sixes and two fours to help his side push on to 271 for eight.
Callum Egan (23 off 13) and Cam McAuslan (43 from 45) generated some momentum, as well.
Ryan Whelan took four wickets for Kaikorai but his nine overs were costly - he conceded 79 runs.
Kaikorai made a terrific start to its chase. It was 160 for one and cruising. But Fergus Ellis was undone on 76 and Rhys Bayly went two balls later for 61.
The pair had added 130 for the second wicket. Their departures opened a portal for Taieri, which Flaws exploited.
He took the wickets of Jordan Gain and Scott Hunter with consecutive balls, and also trapped Jeremy Smith lbw to finish with three for 42.
Josh Finnie held the lower order together with 37 from 40. But he was out second to last and his side's innings closed at 239.
University-Grange 212 lost to Albion 213 for six
University-Grange is closing in on its first one-day win this season.
But the club will have to wait another weekend, after its workman-like innings of 212 was overhauled by Albion with four wickets and eight overs in the bank.
Grange had an early setback when opener Cameron Clarke was out third ball of the game. Stephen Markham led the fight back with 73, while Sanchit Sandhu (45) and Sam Noden (31) put on 57 for the eighth-wicket.
Luke Tatley broke that partnership and finished up with a three-wicket haul, while Josh Cuttance (two for 23) provided some penetration at the top.
Albion ran the target down through a solid team effort. Everybody who batted made a useful contribution.
But Angus McKenzie (56) and Lucas Dasent (43) provided the bulk of the runs.
Noden and Sandhu picked up a couple of wickets each for Grange to complete a decent day's work by the pair.
