Dimitri Mascarenhas finished on the losing side as the Otago Volts failed to retain their State Shield title in today’s final.

Mascarenhas finished New Zealand's domestic one-day tournament with the best bowling economy rate after taking 1 for 36 from his ten overs as Northern Districts made 238-9 at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

But the Hampshire captain was out of sorts with the bat, managing just 17 runs from 70 balls as an Otago side missing the international trio of Brendan McCullum, Craig Cumming and Neil Broom was bowled out for 189.

Mascarenhas still finished the competition with 178 runs at an average of 44.5, but his strike rate dipped to 97.8 in the disappointing 49-run defeat against Northern Districts.

The highlight of Mascarenhas’s stint in New Zealand was away to Auckland a month ago, when he scored five sixes in an over from Kiwi international Daryl Tuffey during an unbeaten 75 from just 51 balls.

But his consistency with the ball was just as impressive. Mascarenhas's nine wickets cost 32.6 runs apiece but no bowler in the State Shield had an economy rate to compare with the England all-rounder's 3.5 runs per over.

Mascarenhas, who won the Player of the Tournament Award for inspiring England to their Hong Kong Sixes triumph in November, is to play a full Indian Premier League season for the Rajasthan Royals from April 10-May 29.