Every time the ball beat the bat, an Otago bowler winced.
Every time a mighty heave of the bat resulted in the ball leaving a fieldsman in its wake, another Otago bowler winced.
And every time deep point fielded the ball, well, Otago coach Dimitri Mascarenhas may have winced or at least been tempted to mutter something naughty under his breath.
He gave a damning assessment of Auckland's tactics in the field during day two of the teams' Plunket Shield encounter at the University Oval yesterday.
Auckland had resumed on 233 for eight and, with a large slice of luck and some well-timed aggression, managed to reach a reasonable total of 335.
Otago was 269 for four in reply when bad light brought an early end to play.
Michael Bracewell is undefeated on 112 - his seventh first-class hundred.
He combined in a 143-run stand with his flatmate, Ryan Duffy (65), after the Volts had slumped to 26 for two.
Jesse Ryder also played a valuable hand, hammering 56 from 67 deliveries.
While the Volts are well-placed to go on today and build a useful lead, Mascarenhas felt Auckland had been too defensive in the field.
''I was pretty disappointed in their tactics. I thought they played some very negative cricket. They had men out pretty much from the start.
''We are trying to create a game here and we are scoring at a good rate, and Auckland are just playing really negative cricket.''
Auckland's tail was far from negative, though.
Tarun Nethula did a good job for his side with 49.
Matt Quinn certainly showed a willingness to attack with 40 from 42, and Dean Bartlett perfected the play and miss.
It was a frustrating period for Otago but Mascarenhas was pleased with the way his side responded.
''I thought we bowled in good areas but it was just one of those days when it went past the bat - a lot. When it did not go past the bat it was going into gaps and going for four.
''That was pretty hard to take but I was not disappointed in the bowling or the fielding effort. I thought it was a really good effort.
''Batting-wise, it was a horror start with those two quick wickets but Ryan and Michael's partnership was as good as partnership as we have had this year.''
The luckless Jacob Duffy secured the breakthrough for Otago but through a run-out off his own bowling.
He scurried after a shot which dribbled out to the vacant midwicket. He slid on one knee, scooped up the ball and fired it to the keeper's end.
His throw beat Nethula back. Derek de Boorder fumbled but managed to deflect it on to the stumps.
Otago's reply got off to an awful start. Aaron Remond clipped the first two deliveries he faced for four but the third straight to point.
Hamish Rutherford also hit two fours in a short stay at the crease before he was bowled. Michael Bates picked up both wickets.
Otago resumed after lunch at 27 for two with Michael Bracewell (seven) and Ryan Duffy (one) with a big repair job ahead.
Bracewell eased any nerves by leaning on an over-pitched delivery from Bates straight after the break and dispatching it through the covers for a boundary.
Duffy looked good as well. He played with more freedom than he has in the past and scored many of his runs backward of point or down to third man.
He needed some luck posting his maiden 50. On 48, he edged Nethula through the slip cordon.
Bracewell also needed some luck. He was dropped by the keeper on 74.
He ran through for a single and got a bonus four overthrows.
In Christchurch, Northern Districts has a battle on its hands.
Canterbury posted 381 (James Baker five for 90) and ND mustered just 234 in reply.
At stumps on day two, Canterbury is 14 for one and leads by 161 runs.
In New Plymouth, Wellington needs 192 runs to win with nine wickets in hand when its game against Central Districts concludes today.
Brent Arnel took six for 52 to help dismiss CD for 252.
Tom Bruce top-scored with 80.
