Otago bounced back from their heavy loss to Central Districts to put themselves in a strong position against Auckland on the opening day of their Plunket Shield match at Eden Park today.

Thrashed by 10 wickets against the Stags on Friday, Otago went on the attack against the Aces, winning the toss and deciding to bowl.

It was a wise decision in windy conditions as Ian Butler spearheaded their bowling with a five wicket haul as they dismissed Auckland for just 196.

Otago were 86 without loss in reply when bad light stopped play 23 overs into their innings.

Colin Munro continued his good form for the Aces, backing up his double century against Wellington last week with 59, the best of the Auckland batsmen.

Lou Vincent struck 37 at the top of the order and Bruce Martin hit a breezy 20 late in the innings but there was little substance to the Auckland batting as they struggled against Butler who took 5-57 off 14 overs.

Hamish Rutherford and Aaron Redmond were untroubled as they got Otago away to a good start in their innings.

Rutherford needed only 57 balls to post his 50, hitting 10 fours. He was 60 at stumps and Redmond hit a patient 23.

AUCKLAND ACES vs OTAGO VOLTS

Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland

AUCKLAND ACES

First Innings

TG McIntosh c NL McCullum b JDS Neesham 14
L Vincent c NL McCullum b IG Butler 37
RA Young c DC de Boorder b IG Butler 11
C de Grandhomme b JDS Neesham 0
GJ Hopkins c DC de Boorder b IG Butler 8
C Munro c HD Rutherford b IG Butler 59
Craig Cachopa c MG Bracewell b JA Duffy 7
KD Mills c JM McMillan b IG Butler 5
BP Martin lbw b NL McCullum 20
MJ McClenaghan st DC de Boorder b NL McCullum 8
DJ Bartlett not out 0

Extras (b 12, lb 10, wd 2, nb 3) 27

Total (for 10 wickets, 51.2 overs) 196

Fall: 1-53 (L Vincent, 16.4), 2-53 (TG McIntosh, 17.6), 3-61 (C de Grandhomme, 21.2), 4-78 (GJ Hopkins, 26.5), 5-87 (RA Young, 28.2), 6-116 (Craig Cachopa, 33.2), 7-168 (KD Mills, 46.3), 8-169 (C Munro, 46.5), 9-189 (BP Martin, 49.5), 10-196 (MJ McClenaghan, 51.2)

Bowling: JM McMillan 12-3-45-0 (1w, JA Duffy 11-4-33-1, IG Butler 14-2-57-5 (1w, 3nb), JDS Neesham 9-4-26-2, NL McCullum 5.2-2-13-2

OTAGO VOLTS

First Innings

AJ Redmond not out 23
HD Rutherford not out 60

Extras (lb 1, wd 1, nb 1) 3

Total (for 0 wickets, 23.0 overs) 86

Bowling: MJ McClenaghan 5-1-24-0 (1w, KD Mills 7-2-26-0 (1nb), DJ Bartlett 4-0-21-0, C de Grandhomme 4-1-13-0, BP Martin 3-2-1-0

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