Normally, being left stranded on 90 would be just awful.
But for Otago's Ryan Duffy, his undefeated innings of 90 came with a couple of silver linings.
His highest first-class score has given the Volts an opportunity to beat Plunket Shield frontrunner Auckland, although it is nip and tuck.
His side needs 132 runs with six wickets in hand when the game resumes at the University Oval today.
The other positive spin is Duffy became just the seventh Otago batsman to carry his bat through an "all out innings'' for the province.
It is an elite club which includes Ken Rutherford, Roger Blunt and Craig Cumming.
It is one of those achievements which relies, to a certain extent, on team-mates not playing particularly well.
But that should not diminish his effort.
On a lively pitch with some pace and bounce, Duffy was able to occupy the crease and keep his wicket intact.
He also got to bat with his brother Jacob Duffy for the first time in a Plunket Shield match.
"When Jake came out, I started to think about [getting a hundred] and thought I might have to farm the strike a little bit,'' Ryan said.
"But, to be honest, we didn't discuss it at all. We just played naturally - but it wasn't to be.''
The partnership was brief.
The younger Duffy could not see Duffy senior through to his hundred.
Neither could No 11 Jack Hunter.
Otago was bowled out for 177.
While most found the pitch difficult to survive on, the Kaikorai top order player thrived.
"I've been playing club cricket all season and then playing on that, it seemed like a road.''
Auckland's first innings lead of 78 was significant but that advantage was quickly eroded as the visitors struggled terribly in their second dig.
Jeet Ravel (47) and Robbie O'Donnell (46) provided the only resistance with Auckland crumbling to be all out for 139.
Jacob Duffy (three for 47) removed the top three batsman and Craig Smith mopped up the tail with four for 35.
Auckland lost its last five wickets for just 17 runs.
That left the Volts needing 218 to win.
Duffy had to bat again but was not able to get going.
He chopped on for 12.
Fellow opener Brad Wilson got through to 17 before he was caught in the gully.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson picked up both wickets and was fizzing the ball through.
He was a little erratic, though.
Michael Bracewell, who is playing in his 50th first-class game, nicked out on 11 to complete a disappointing game with the bat, and Jimmy Neesham got an inside edge on to his wickets, leaving Otago 86 for four at stumps.
The game is in the balance.
"I think we can do it. We've got experienced guys in there at the moment with Anaru [Kitchen] and Derek [de Boorder]. Mark Craig has a first-class hundred and he is in next,'' Duffy said.
"I'm pretty confident we can get there.''
At Hagley Oval, Wellington rallied to reach 206 after having slumped to 78 for eight.
Scott Borthwick led the revival with an undefeated 110.
With so much time lost in the game due to poor weather, Canterbury declared its first innings at 159 for two.
With a day to play Wellington is 39 without loss and leads by 86 runs.
In Hamilton, Northern Districts set Central Districts a huge victory target of 498 after posting 332 for seven declared.
Central was 64 for three at stumps and need a further 434 to win.
● Former Black Cap Jesse Ryder's pockets are $500 lighter after he let his frustrations with an umpire get the better of him.
Wellington Cricket yesterday confirmed the punishment handed down on the attacking left-hand batsman over an incident in a club match in the capital last month.
Cricket Wellington chief executive Peter Clinton said Ryder was found guilty of dissenting an umpire's decision and fined $500.
After a hearing last week, a commissioner released his decision this week.
The offence was at level two, which is on a scale between less serious level one and more serious level four offences.
- Additional reporting NZME.
Otago openers
the magnificent seven
Otago players to have carried their bat through an all out innings. -
Leonard Harris
41 v Tasmania, Dunedin in 1883/84
Roger Blunt
131 v Canterbury, Dunedin in 1926/27
Bob Holloway
61 v Central Districts, Nelson in 1962/63
Ken Rutherford
89 v Auckland, Dunedin in 1984/85
Peter Dobbs
81 v Canterbury, Oamaru in 1994/95
Craig Cumming
106 v Canterbury, Rangiora in 2010/11
Ryan Duffy
90 v Auckland, Dunedin, yesterday
