Otago had a memorable Plunket Shield for all the right reasons but the campaign will also be remembered for a stumble at the last hurdle.
In one of the closest finishes to the four-day competition in years, Otago needed 200 runs to secure an outright win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve but slumped to be all out for 145, losing by 54 runs.
A win may have been enough for Otago to claim the title - we will never know. Central Districts was locked in a fascinating battle with Northern Districts across the strait in Nelson, and would have needed to win had Otago managed to reach its target.
But once Central caught up with the news from Wellington, the resolve to carry on wilted, both captains agreed to accept a draw, and Central hoisted the shield.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said it would be disappointing if people remembered the Volts' campaign for one poor day of cricket.
''We've played exceptionally well all year but we failed to come up [on Saturday], that's all,'' Johnson said.
''We needed 200 to possibly win the Plunket Shield and we couldn't get them, so we didn't deserve it. But we've still had a hell of a year.
''We've won games of cricket convincingly, we've scored runs and everybody has contributed. You couldn't ask for more. We've had one bad day and it hurts like hell.''
Otago won three consecutive first-class games to get into a position to win the tournament and dominated Wellington for three of the four days.
But Johnson felt his side did not make the most of its first innings and missed out on an opportunity to build a big lead.
''I don't think we lost it on the last day. I think we lost it during that first innings when we batted and we didn't get enough in front.
''And obviously there was a bit of pressure with 200 being a niggly score on a wicket that was starting to turn and do a few funny things. We didn't get a solid start like we normally have. We had a stupid run out and then had bits and pieces when guys got in but couldn't go on.
''I suppose you could say it was the pressure of having to win. But I had concerns in the previous game because I felt we were running out of gas a little bit in terms of our bowlers.''
One of Johnson's personal highlights was watching Aaron Redmond return from a horror season to top the scoring in the Plunket Shield with 941 runs at an average of 55.35.
He got joy, too, from seamer Ian Butler's efforts. Butler took 39 wickets at 25.12, including two five-wicket bags.
''But the main thing for me was the consistency,'' Johnson said.
Otago will have to bury its disappointment quickly and the bowlers will need to find a second wind as the one-day campaign begins tomorrow.
Otago plays Wellington away in the first round and will then travel to Christchurch to play Canterbury on Thursday.
With Neil Broom, James Neesham, Hamish Rutherford and Neil Wagner all named in the New Zealand selection side to play England in a four day warm-up game in Queenstown this week, Otago will have to blood some new talent.
''I'm walking the streets at the moment trying to find some more players. We're under the cosh, I suppose, with the depth of the one-day player we've got available to us.''
