A feast of runs in Wellington in October - not a phrase you hear too often in New Zealand first-class cricket.
And it is for that reason the chances of an outright result could be slipping away from both Otago and Wellington at the Basin Reserve over the next two days.
Wellington is slowly eating away at Otago's first-innings score of 534 for nine, finishing day two on 217 for two with Stephen Murdoch (82) and Michael Pollard (38) sharing in a 92-run stand through to stumps.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson was a happy man after Otago's batting performance, highlighted by first-day centuries to Aaron Redmond (154) and Michael Bracewell (107) before Jesse Ryder brought up his first century in Otago colours, finishing with 117.
Ryder gave himself an Otago debut to remember with his 164-ball knock, peppered with 22 boundaries.
''It's awesome to score my first hundred for the Volts,'' he said.
''Everyone in Otago cricket has made me feel extremely welcome since I signed to play here, so it's great to repay their faith in me.''
But poor line and length from most of the Otago bowling attack has Johnson scratching his head about how his side can pick up another 18 wickets.
''We've had an OK day. Yesterday was a good day, but today was only OK,'' he said.
''We batted well on a very flat deck, but I was a bit disappointed in the way we bowled.
''Sam Wells was probably the pick of [the bowlers], but in saying that, on a wicket like this, you can't have one guy bowling OK. You've got to have everyone bowling OK and we need to improve that overnight.''
The accuracy may have been lacking, but Johnson said the pitch surprised him as well.
''It's very benign. There's just not a lot of real quick pace in the wicket.
''It's just flat basically, and it's surprising for this time of the year at the Basin, because normally it does a little bit for the first couple of days.''
Iain Robertson joined Derek De Boorder in the middle after Ryder's dismissal before Wellington offspinner Jeetan Patel struck twice in consecutive balls, trapping Robertson (14) and Mark Craig (0) leg-before.
De Boorder's departure for 40 prompted a declaration from Otago with the score at 534 for nine, and Wellington set about scoring runs quickly in the 17 overs of play before the tea interval.
Michael Papps was particularly attacking, hitting 15 boundaries on his way to 79 from 86 balls, but he lost opening partner Josh Brodie for 14 when he was bowled by Otago left-armer Blair Soper.
Papps was joined by Stephen Murdoch, and the pair put on 99 for the second wicket before Sam Wells' medium pace found a gap in Papps' defences to dismiss the former Black Caps opener in the 30th over.
Wellington soldiered on through to stumps, with Murdoch and Michael Pollard putting on an unbeaten partnership of 92 for the third wicket.
The pitch could have the final say in the match, as Otago tries to protect its lead when the third day gets under way this morning.
''It's just a bit of a headache how we're going to get 20 wickets,'' Johnson said.
