Otago's Jesse Ryder scored his third century in five games for the province in a perfect rehearsal for his return to international cricket later this week.
The hard-hitting left-hander complied a wonderful innings of 119 on day three of his side's Plunket Shield fixture against Central Districts at the University Oval yesterday.
Otago resumed at 30 for two and his effort helped the home team reach a secure position of 371 for eight in reply to Central's first-innings total of 255.
Unfortunately, the game was robbed of an entire day's play on Saturday and further overs were lost to poor weather yesterday.
The odds have shortened on a draw unless Otago can produce something special with the ball when the game concludes today.
Otago captain Derek de Boorder said the team had contemplated a declaration before stumps but ruled it out.
''If we had a few more runs on the board that might have been a consideration, but I don't think the lead at the moment is enough,'' de Boorder said.
Wickets are getting harder to chip out but de Boorder believes there is enough time left in the match for a result.
''With the new ball, if you put it in the right area there is still a bit there. I think we will have to bowl well to take 10 wickets on that. I think it showed it is starting to flatten out a lot more.
''We have to roll the dice so to speak to get ourselves in a position that we can win the Plunket Shield and we need to win games. So we have to try and manufacture results if we can.''
Yesterday was frustrating as showers stopped play four or five times. However, Ryder's performance provided the sunshine.
The 29-year-old has not played international cricket since February last year after deciding to take a break from the game at the highest level.
But his form this season, and his willingness to resume his career, resulted in his being named in the squad for the one-day series against the West Indies which starts on Boxing Day.
He should not be short of confidence. So far, this summer, Ryder has scored 573 first-class runs at 71.62.
He was prolific for Wellington last season, too, scoring three centuries and averaging more than 50.
But it is the way Ryder is scoring runs now that is perhaps the most impressive.
He has mixed in a bit more patience with all that natural ability.
It is more a careful than carefree brand of cricket he is playing and he looks a more complete player as a result.
His knock was certainly not flawless. He played and missed like everybody else.
But the difference between Ryder and the rest of the batsmen on display was how easy he made it look once he got established.
The first glimpse of Ryder the punisher was when he walloped a delivery from Kieran Noema-Barnett over midwicket for six.
He had been quiet up to that point and had to work for his first 30 runs.
But that fantastic swat was a clear signal to everybody watching he had his eye in.
The small crowd was treated to a flurry of boundaries after the morning drinks break.
He got on one knee and dispatched a delightful square drive. Another disappeared to the cover boundary as he plundered 12 from a Roald Badenhorst over.
On 58 he nicked a delivery from Carl Cachopa through the vacant slip cordon and he was beaten every so often.
But he was able to shrug off any doubt and, together with Neil Broom, added 120 for the third wicket.
He brought up his 16th first-class hundred by guiding a delivery from Badenhorst to third man for a brace.
The celebration was muted considering his achievement. Perhaps not since the great Bert Sutcliffe has someone made as big an impact in so few games.
Sutcliffe reached the milestone of 500 runs in his first three matches for Otago. Ryder took four and a-half games to score that many for his adopted province.
Broom also looked in good touch. He got through to 72 before he was trapped in front by Tarun Nethula.
Sam Wells (36), Nathan McCullum (30), Jimmy Neesham (28) and Derek de Boorder (31) all got decent starts.
Had they added a few more perhaps the declaration would have come earlier.
It felt like Otago batted on too long.
Time will tell and time is running out.
