Otago's four-day campaign was a bit like watching a movie after reading the book - it was not as good as hoped and someone had changed the ending.
After breaking a 20-year drought by winning the one-day tournament, hopes were high Otago could get its State Championship season back on track.
But while the team demonstrated plenty of resolve in remaining undefeated, its fourthplace finish is a poor reflection of the talent in the side. Put simply, Otago underachieved.
The batsmen, by and large, did not convert some good starts, and the bowling attack looked more comfortable containing a side than blasting it out.
Despite six batsmen averaging more than 35 runs, only five 100s were scored.
That was exactly half of the centuries plundered during the previous season, and was a major failing of a talented top six containing two New Zealand A players in former test opener Craig Cumming and newly-promoted test opener Aaron Redmond.
Last season, the Otago attack toiled to dismiss sides, taking 102 wickets at an average of 45.23 runs.
Otago improved that damaging statistic, taking 109 wickets at 32.62. Bradley Scott and Warren McSkimming took 53 wickets between them, but the rest struggled, taking the remaining 56 wickets at 41.73.
In the opening match against Central Districts in Napier, Otago had its opponent on the ropes.
But Mathew Sinclair resurrected the innings with an extraordinary undefeated 243, breaking the previous highest innings by a Central Districts batsman.
It eclipsed Martin Crowe's 242 set against Otago in New Plymouth in 1989-90. In round two, Greg Todd joined an exclusive club when he became the first Otago player to score back-to-back 100s in a first-class match for the province since Ken Rutherford 22 years earlier.
He joined Kenneth Uttley, Bert Sutcliffe, Glenn Turner and Rutherford as the only players to have completed the feat while playing for Otago.
But his effort was not enough to prevent Wellington claiming first-innings points before the match petered out to a draw.
Otago collected its first points when it demolished Auckland by six wickets on a green top at the University Oval.
Scott took six for 20 in the first innings to help set up the win.
Draws against Canterbury and Northern Districts left Otago with some ground to make up to keep its title hopes alive.
It won a crucial toss against an underpowered Wellington and bowled it out for a paltry 76 to set up a massive victory by an innings and 116 runs.
With two matches remaining, Otago was still in contention but needed to force a result against Northern Districts.
ND declared immediately after claiming first-innings points, and Nathan McCullum scored his maiden first-class 100 to help set a target of 332 to win.
Northern gave the chase a decent nudge, and Otago got eight of the 10 wickets it needed to win. But both sides had to settle for a draw.
The final round-robin match against Canterbury was a dead rubber for Otago and finished in a draw after rain prevented all but 90min of play on day three.
McSkimming had a fine match though, taking five for 56 and scoring 71. But for most of the summer he was operating a notch or two below his normal level.
The medium pacer had an injury-plagued season in 2006-07 and took until the last couple of rounds to return to his best.
But with the bat he has steadily grown in confidence and averaged 38.55, including four 50s. His tally of 347 runs was a sizeable contribution.
Scott was the pick of the bowlers. A heady player, he took 31 wickets at an excellent average of 19.77. His season tally was helped by some bowler-friendly conditions at University Oval, but his ability to exploit the surfaces should not be underestimated.
The Green Island stalwart was unlucky to be overlooked for the Black Caps tour of England but the drums are beating.
Another who is possibly in that category is McCullum. The offspinner was useful with the ball, taking 17 wickets at 37.35, and made steady progress with the bat to underscore his all-round potential.
He was promoted to No 6 and scored 361 at an average of 36.10.
Craig Smith was, arguably, the next best of the bowlers. The promising left-armer was the big improver this summer, taking nine wickets in four matches.
With Scott in the line-up, Smith struggled to get regular starts. But the 23-year-old certainly adds value to the attack and is sure to get more opportunities in the future.
Fast bowler James McMillan had another season hampered by injury and shortened his run-up in an attempt to stay on the park.
A shoulder bowler, McMillan was confident he would not lose much pace. But the speedster struggled to impose himself on the competition, taking 12 wickets at 47.41.
With the bat, just about everybody contributed at some stage. Eight batsmen averaged more than 30 and, on paper, that statistic looks impressive. But with only five 100s scored, the batsmen's inability to push on once they got starts snuffed out any momentum Otago generated.
Neil Broom partly rescued his season with 150 late in the summer, but otherwise underdelivered on his potential.
Cumming and Redmond formed a solid opening partnership and both averaged more than 40.
Redmond's efforts saw him rewarded with selection in the Black Caps test squad. It is a punt, but those in the know believe the right-hander has a solid technique and can add to the colourful family history.
Thirty-five-years earlier, his father, Rodney Redmond, became part of New Zealand cricket folklore when the tall lefthander scored a century and a 50 on debut but never played another test.
Rookie wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder put in some mixed performances with the gloves but was more than useful with the bat, scoring 283 runs at 35.37.
Todd topped the averages, scoring 576 runs at 44.30. He had a great start to the summer, scoring 393 in his first four innings. But his next nine digs netted just 183 runs at 20.33.
Like Otago, he delivered less than expected.
