Michael Bracewell hoped he would not get out in the 90s again and then went and got out in the 90s - the 190s to be exact.
The Otago left-hander's maiden first-class hundred (190) has helped put the Volts in a dominant position in their Plunket Shield match with Wellington at the University Oval.
In reply to Wellington's first innings total of 254, Otago was 570 for five at stumps on day two, which is an Otago record score against Wellington and a ground record, surpassing the 519 for eight declared the home team managed in the corresponding fixture last summer.
The healthy 316-run lead was made possible by a record 291-run partnership between Bracewell and Neil Broom.
The pair broke the Otago record for all wickets against Wellington, eclipsing the previous mark of 254 set by Ken Rutherford and Kevin Burns in Oamaru in 1987-88.
Earlier, they overhauled the Otago record third-wicket partnership against Wellington of 213 set by Glenn Turner and Bevan Congdon in Dunedin in 1972-73.
Bracewell resumed on 36 and played quite measured cricket.
He lost batting partner Hamish Rutherford second ball of the day when he had his middle stump knock out of the ground by Mark Gillespie.
The early wicket, though, was no indication of the how the day would pan out. Otago dominated through Bracewell and Broom.
Bracewell had five 50s to his name and had got perilously close to registering a hundred but had twice got out in the 90s.
He showed little sign of nerves this time, moving through the 90s seamlessly. He got a full toss from left-arm spinner Mark Houghton which he drove through the covers for four to move to 99. He then worked a delivery into the leg side to raise the milestone.
It was a fabulous moment for the strapping 21-year-old.''
It was nice to get that hundred off the back,'' he said.''
This time I was a lot more relaxed than I have been in the past and I was in and out of the 90s pretty quick.''
Having been in that situation before obviously helps a bit and knowing what mistakes you've made in the past.''
Having him [Broom] out there was a help. He is just nice and relaxed at the other end.''
I've played 17 games now so it is a bit of a relief to get that first hundred. Hopefully, there are a few more to come.''
The longer Bracewell innings went on the more brutal it became. He unleashed a series of powerful pull shots and was also particularly strong through the covers. He had a life on 126 when Malaesaili Tugaga put down a simple catch but other than that his innings was free of drama.
He was, perhaps, unlucky to get out when he did. He hooked a loose delivery from Gillespie to Jesse Ryder, who claimed a fine running catch at fine leg.
On any other day Broom's chanceless century - his 12th first-class hundred and 11th for Otago - would have made headlines. He played some masterful shots in an almost flawless innings of 134, and his only real mistake led to his downfall. He got an edge playing the same cute dab shot which had worked so well for him.
Broom had cut and guided the ball down to third man for a series of boundaries, punished anything over tossed through the covers and used his feet beautifully to hit down the ground or swivel into pull shots.
He scored all around the wicket in an innings which can only be described as complete.
There was not much reprieve for Wellington once the pair were removed with Sam Wells adding 48 from 67.
Derek de Boorder survived after chopping on while on six thanks to a Scott Kuggeleijn front foot no-ball and finished the day undefeated on 46. Iain Robertson is at the wicket with him on 27.
Home side Northern Districts sent Auckland's bowling attack to all corners of Seddon Park yesterday as three batsmen racked up centuries and it closed day two on 530 for five, 290 runs ahead of the Auckland which was bowled out for 240 on Thursday, APNZ reports.
New Zealand test player Daniel Flynn top-scored for Northern with 166 - his 13th first-class century - with able support from Brad Wilson (139) and James Marshall (102).
Wilson and Flynn's 301-run stand was the highest partnership for the second wicket by a Northern Districts pair against any opposition.
In Napier, Canterbury conceded a small first-innings deficit as it was bowled out for 292 by Central Districts.
Black Cap Dean Brownlie top-scored for Canterbury with 88, while part-time international Andrew Ellis added a rapid 87.
Central closed on 77 for two, 88 runs ahead with eight second-innings wickets in hand.
Carl Cachopa will begin today on 33 while Ross Taylor has 22next to his name.
