Auckland's Anaru Kitchen has one day a year when he makes batting look ridiculously easy.
His batting partner, Neal Parlane, would have just been pleased to pick up the match fee after struggling to make the starting XI all summer.
Unfortunately for Otago, the pair picked yesterday to make a point. They both notched centuries and combined to add 222 runs for the third wicket which helped their side post an imposing 337 for three.
There was to be no miracle run chase. Otago made a reasonable effort to overhaul the massive target with Hamish Rutherford scoring 62 from 60 and Darren Broom adding 48.
But the Volts were eventually dismissed for 264 and eliminated from the Ford Trophy one-day tournament with Auckland earning the right to play Central Districts in Sunday's final at Pukekura Park.
The day belonged to two players at very different stages in their careers. Parlane is in the twilight of his career but will long remember yesterday as one of his highlights. The 33-year-old made his debut for Northern Districts in 1996-97 before shifting to Wellington in 2002-03.
After nine years in the capital he was overlooked for a contract and transferred north to Auckland to try his luck this season.
The summer had not gone that well. In three first-class games for his new province he has scored 35 runs and had not played in the one-day tournament until yesterday.
On debut he whacked 117 from 94 deliveries, including four sixes and seven fours. It was just his second one-day century in 16 seasons and highest one-day innings.
Kitchen is a regular in the one-day side and has enjoyed moderate success with 196 runs at an average of 28 this season. But he found the form of which he is capable with a sparkling innings of 110 from 81 balls. It featured eight fours and five sixes and was the right-hander's maiden one-day century. He topped off a great day with three for 52 with the ball.
Only Otago left-armer Nick Beard managed to escaped the carnage. He took one for 40 from 10 overs.
Neil Wagner's reputation suffered a setback. He bowled poorly, going for 74 runs. Sam Wells' three-over stint also proved costly and Jimmy Neesham's golden run with the ball ended abruptly.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson was disappointed with his side's performance. Against a weakened Auckland side, missing Colin de Grandhomme, Roneel Hira and Andre Adams , Johnson believed his side had a golden opportunity.
"Bits and pieces were OK but at the end of the day we didn't take the opportunity which was given to us," he said.
"We bowled and fielded well for 24 overs and then bowled poorly in the last half of the innings. People didn't execute and people got bumped. All those sort of of things you've heard before.
"I thought we were a real chance at the beginning of the day. To have to chase 340-odd is just not acceptable."
The Volts will have an opportunity to extract some revenge when they met Auckland in a Plunket Shield match at the University Oval beginning on February 17.
