Otago batters were not quite as cool in the 90s, though.
Dean Foxcroft and Thorn Parkes were eyeing maiden first-class centuries yesterday but fell just short.
The pair put on 147 for the fourth wicket to help Otago reach 429 in reply to Northern Districts’ first-innings tally of 355 at Bay Oval in Tauranga.
The home side is 39 for one in its second dig and trails by 35 runs with a day to play.
Otago has the reins and Foxcroft helped wrestle control of the game. He seemed destined to notch a century.
The South African-born all-rounder had resumed on 76 and made rapid progress towards the milestone.
It was just his second game back following a two-year Covid-enforced absence and you could forgive the 24-year-old right-hander for being a little over eager.
On 93, Neil Wagner offered up a wide half-volley and he attempted to lash it through the covers but dragged it on to his leg stump.
Once he gets over the crushing disappointment, he will be able to reflect on a quality innings which should give him plenty of confidence for the games to come.
The same is true for Parkes.
The 22-year-old left-hander scored back-to-back half-centuries to help Otago beat Auckland by 168 runs last week.
He edged the ball through the slips early in the morning session but otherwise looked assured.
The pressure started to build after lunch, though. On 96 he missed out on a couple of juicy opportunities to send the ball to the boundary.
That seemed to unsettle him and he pulled out a reverse sweep which nearly ended badly.
He survived that but not the hoick which he sent skyward.
Parkes walked off quickly with his head down and full of regret.
But it was his third consecutive half-century and so close to being his first hundred. It was a top knock and he looks a player with a bright future.
Travis Muller added a valuable 50 and Jacob Duffy clouted 70 and featured in a damaging 83-run stand for the ninth wicket with Michael Rae (36).
Add Duffy’s half-century to his seven-wicket haul in the first innings and you have got you man of the match sorted already.
His next goal will be to pick up three second-innings wickets and collect a maiden 10-wicket bag.
But it was Rae who achieved the late breakthrough. He bounced out former Black Caps test opener Jeet Raval for four.
At the Basin Reserve, Canterbury cruised to a 290-run win.
Wellington was bundled out for 87 in its second innings after folding for 80 in its first dig — it was its lowest match aggregate since 1887. Matt Henry and Sean Davey nabbed seven wickets each in the game and Tom Latham scored 143 not out in the second innings.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
First innings 355
OTAGO
First innings
H Rutherford c Seifert b Kuggeleijn 9
J Cumming c Raval b Fisher 24
D Phillips c Raval b Fisher 23
D Foxcroft b Wagner 93
T Parkes c Kuggeleijn b Walker 96
M Chu c Popli b Wagner 0
M Rippon lbw b Wagner 0
T Muller c Carter b Raval 50
J Duffy c Walker b Wagner 70
M Rae b Walker 36
J Mckay not out 6
Extras (5b, 3lb, 14w) 22
Total (150.3 overs) 429
Fall: 1-11, 2-48, 3-65, 4-212, 5-214, 6-214, 7-308, 8-330, 9-413.
Bowling: N Wagner 23.3-6-67-4, S Kuggeleijn 21-2-90-1 (4w), J Walker 45-6-111-2, C de Grandhomme 15-2-30-0, K Clarke 19-6-51-0, M Fisher 10-0-28-2 (2w), J Raval 17-0-44-1.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Second innings
H Cooper not out 19
J Raval c Foxcroft b Rae 4
B Popli not out 11
Extras (1b, 4lb) 5
Total (for 1 wicket, 17 overs) 39
Fall: 1-16.
Bowling: J Duffy 6-5-8-0, M Rae 6-4-5-1, T Muller 2-0-8-0, M Rippon 2-0-13-0, D Foxcroft 1-1-0-0.
