Twenty-one of them tumbled during the opening day of the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Northern Districts at Bay Oval yesterday.
But by stumps a couple of the Otago batsmen were at least able to take their heads off their hands.
The Volts will resume this morning on 88 for one in their second innings. They lead by 60 runs, after a day when the bowlers had it almost all their own way.
Coach Rob Walter summed up the proceedings as ''an interesting day''.
''[The pitch] was certainly greenish but also very hard and it had good pace in it,'' he said.
''Probably 50% of the wickets were down to a skilled bowling attack. It was a test bowling attack minus one.''
That one was Tim Southee, sidelined with a knee injury.
Otago crashed to be all out for 108 in its first dig; no surprise there, perhaps. The Volts have a green batting line-up, and Northern Districts is stacked with bowlers. Its international trio of Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme combined to take eight wickets.
Jacob Duffy had a heave at the end to help his side get past 100, with a cameo of 31 from 30 deliveries. Mark Craig's 21 was helpful in the context of the game, as well.
Former Volts left-armer Wagner had three for none at one stage. His trademark bouncer accounted for Michael Rippon and he trapped Brad Wilson lbw. He got Wilson out the same way again later in the day, which will be a worry for the batsman.
Wagner did not have to work very hard for Josh Finnie's wicket. The young batsman launched into an ambitious drive and was bowled for a duck - a rather injudicious shot, given his side was 39 for four at the time.
The Northern batsmen fared little better as Nathan Smith produced a wonderful spell.
He should be talking about the ball which accounted for Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson for some time. It nipped away just enough to take a healthy edge. He backed that up with another cracker to remove Dean Brownlie in the 10th over.
The next delivery was unplayable. Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling can be forgiven for the leave but, unfortunately for him, the ball jagged back and skittled his off stump.
The 20-year-old was on a hat-trick, but was denied by de Grandhomme.
Incredibly, the Volts were on track to secure a first-innings lead until Boult blasted 61, his highest first-class score - off just 37 deliveries - to get his side through to 136, a lead of 28.
Craig bore the brunt of Boult's onslaught, being clobbered for four sixes and two fours in one very painful over.
Matthew Bacon wrapped up the tail with four for 31. The Volts' attack was assisted by some quality fielding and catching.
Hamish Rutherford (37 not out) and Shawn Hicks (47 not out) helped restore the balance for Otago by scoring some much-needed runs late in the day.
Walter was thrilled with the way his side battled back.
''When you get out for 108 it is easy to get down on yourselves. But we stuck to our guns.
''We kept our plans really simple, made early inroads and the quality of the catching was really good.
''[Today] will need to be a big day with the bat.''
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington posted a modest total of 255. Auckland seamer Matt McEwan took four for 48, while Jeet Raval is 46 not out and his side 64 for two.
In Nelson, Central Districts reached 301 for seven against Canterbury. Black Cap Ross Taylor made 75 and Willem Ludick is 80 not out.
