Some miserly bowling and a good helping of patience has enabled Otago to get into a healthy position in its Plunket Shield fixture against Auckland at the University Oval.
The Aces reached 233 for eight when poor light brought about an early end to play on day one yesterday.
The visiting side had slumped to 74 for five but a much-needed 115-run partnership for the sixth wicket meant Otago did not have everything its own way.
''Obviously, taking eight wickets for 230-odd on what is actually quite a good deck was pretty good,'' Otago captain Aaron Redmond said.
''There are no demons in it and there should be a lot of runs on offer [today]. If we can get a couple of early poles then we can get stuck in and score some runs.''
Cricket can be an odd game.
One moment Auckland was sailing along nicely at 63 without loss.
The opening pair had got through the new ball and, although they had not been in punishing touch, they were starting to threaten.
A cracking yorker and a couple of loose drives changed the complexion of the session.
Jeet Raval fell off balance trying to clip a toe crusher from Michael Rae and was bowled.
Anaru Kitchen played a lazy shot and only managed an inside edge on to his stumps.
Rae had been under pressure but his double breakthrough triggered further loss.
Colin Munro was next to go. He hit the easiest of catches to Neil Wagner at mid-off.
That was enough for Redmond to bring back Jacob Duffy.
The right-armer bowled a tremendous opening spell without picking up a wicket but quickly added two scalps to the column.
He trapped Rob Nicol in two minds.
The batsman wanted to leave the delivery but withdrew his bat too late and got an inside edge.
Derek de Boorder grabbed a stunning catch, diving suddenly to his left.
Donovan Grobbelaar perished shortly after. He got a good line and length delivery from Duffy which found the outside edge of his bat.
Auckland had lost five wickets for 11 runs and went to lunch at 78 for five.
Progress was glacial after the break with Robbie O'Donnell and Brad Cachopa struggling to get their shots away.
Otago all-rounder Josh Finnie made his debut at the bowling crease in the 56th over and dragged down his maiden delivery in first-class cricket.
The other five deliveries were on the mark, though, and the over passed in a flash.
While runs were not coming quickly, the score was mounting and the session passed without further calamity.
Cachopa raised his eighth first-class 50 while O'Donnell eventually reached 50 as well.
The pair brought up a 100-run partnership after the tea break. It had taken 251 balls and more than 2 hours.
''They batted well. We were trying not to go away from our bowling plans and obviously the run rate was not that flash. That was through our guys bowling quite well.
''The theory was if we bowled well enough for long enough, we'd take wickets and we got the reward at the end of the day.''
Finnie broke the partnership when Cachopa (71) got under a lofted drive. Redmond took a nice catch above his head.
The ball had threatened to clear him but he plucked it out of the sky while back-pedalling furiously.
• Central Districts' match with Wellington in New Plymouth is interestingly poised after two days' play.
The home side posted 229 and Wellington replied with 242. Central is 50 for three in its second innings.
• In Christchurch, Canterbury is 325 for seven at stumps on day one of its match against top-of-the-table Northern Districts.
Opener Leo Carter scored 81 and Neil Broom added 76.
