But Haines produced a match-winning innings to help Oxford University to a one-wicket win over Cambridge University at the home of cricket, Lord's, last Friday.
The former Taieri College pupil was awarded the Woolf Fisher scholarship in October 2010 and he is studying for a doctorate in mathematics at Oxford, using statistics to research how the English language has evolved over time.
Some quick equations were in order for Haines as he went out to bat at Lord's with Oxford in real strife at 82 for seven in the 32nd over, needing 96 runs off the last 18 overs.
Haines, who was recognised for his outstanding contribution to squash in the 2011 Otago University sports awards, proceeded to take the Cambridge attack apart, scoring an unbeaten 61 off 44 balls as Oxford got home with five balls to spare.
Haines was named man of the match for his hard-hitting innings which came after a tidy spell of nought for 25 from his nine overs.
He hit three sixes in his innings, including one to bring up his half-century, and the other to finish the game off in the last over which secured the C. B. Fry Trophy for Oxford.
The 50-over match is one of three regular fixtures between the two universities.
The twenty20 match last month was abandoned due to rain, but the annual first-class fixture will be played at Oxford from June 30.
