When the game is still in the balance at tea on the final day, you know you are in for a thrilling final session.
That excitement never eventuated, however. Otago and Central Districts had to settle for a draw at the University Oval on Saturday.
The Volts climbed their way back into the match thanks to a maiden first-class century by birthday boy Ryan Duffy.
But the 25-year-old's dismissal for 104, followed by Josh Finnie's departure not long after for 22, left the Volts' lower order with too much work to do.
Christi Viljoen kept playing shots, blasting an undefeated 55, and Jacob Duffy made 13 not out at No10 to help secure the draw.
Otago finished on 305 for eight, 38 runs short of victory.
Earlier, Central had resumed at 194 for six with Doug Bracewell undefeated on 24 and Navin Patel on six.
The partnership threatened to end early, as Jacob Duffy got the ball to whizz past the outside edge of Patel's bat regularly.
But through good luck, rather than good management, Patel continued. He either found the middle or missed it completely.
While frustrating for Otago, Central's lead kept mounting and with it Bracewell's confidence grew.
With the declaration imminent, he teed off and Patel continued to swing in hope.
Part-time left-arm spinner Anaru Kitchen was hit for two sixes in an expensive over which cost his side 14 runs.
By drinks, the partnership was worth 99 runs and had come off just 113 balls.
Whatever was in the cordial, it proved toxic for the partnership. Bracewell holed out first ball after the break, tonking it to Finnie at deep midwicket for 67.
Patel perished the very next delivery, when he was trapped lbw for 47. Kitchen claimed both and Central declared at 282 for eight, setting Otago 343 for victory.
Otago's chase suffered an early setback when captain Brad Wilson played around his front pad and got an edge on five. He was replaced at the crease by Michael Bracewell, who looked in good touch, despite a lean run recently.
He leaned on the ball and stroked several boundaries down the ground and also cut the ball well. He had a life on 29, when he top-edged a pull shot but was unable to make the most of the chance.
His cousin, Doug Bracewell, nicked him out for 40. Kitchen got a start, getting through to 15 before he provided the slip cordon with more practice, and Neesham's innings lasted just two deliveries.
The pugnacious Derek de Boorder slapped a shot to cover on 23 and, at the tea break, Otago was 182 for five.
Ryan Duffy had remained resolute and he inched his way closer to his maiden century after the break.
He was lucky to survive on 97, when Ben Smith dropped him in the gully. A couple of overs later he swatted the ball to the point boundary to bring up the milestone.
The game petered out after he was dismissed, top-edging a sweep shot, and Finnie holed out.
Auckland won the Plunket Shield after it amassed 598 in its second innings against Wellington at the Basin Reserve, the highest domestic total recorded at the ground.
Wellington tried to run it down but in the end came up well short.
Canterbury, the only other side capable of catching Auckland, ended up drawing its game against Northern Districts.
