And so was that.
Whack.
Central Districts pummelled 14 sixes on the way to a massive total of 314 for seven from just 37 overs in a rain-reduced Ford Trophy game against Otago at the University Oval yesterday.
Fast bowler Adam Milne cracked five sixes at the death to post a 18-ball half century — his maiden list A 50.
Then he helped skin the Volts’ top order, taking two for 15.
One delivery flew so far from the top of Neil Broom’s leg stump, it may have also carried for six.
The home side crumbled to 24 for five. As unlikely as it seems, Otago’s batting was almost as bad as its bowling.
Max Chu showed some resolve with 31, and Jacob Duffy clubbed 23 not out.
But Otago could muster only 114 for nine. Fast bowler Michael Rae picked up a groin injury and was unable to bat.
The injured-plagued right-armer is set for another stint on the sidelines.
The 200-run loss featured some utterly garbage bowling, 19 wides and critical dropped catches.
Otago coach Dion Ebrahim certainly had plenty to be grumpy about. But he was measured in his assessment.
‘‘A result like this can cause knee-jerk reactions,’’ he said.
‘‘We got blown out of the water by a team which we have to remember has seven Black Caps, and they probably have four times the amount of list A cricket in terms of experience.
‘‘That gap in experience, and you could possibly say ability, was there and was highlighted today in the performance.’’
A lot of damage was done at the back end of Central’s innings.
Milne teamed up with Doug Bracewell (29 not out) in a ferocious seventh-wicket stand. The pair smashed 76 from just 31 balls.
The last four overs yielded 78 runs — that is nearly 20 an over.
That momentum rolled over to the field. The Stags gutted the Volts batting line-up, snapping up five wickets in the power play.
Otago captain Hamish Rutherford was a late scratching. His partner, Sophie Peat, had the couple’s second child during the weekend.
Nick Kelly assumed the captaincy in his absence.
Duffy strung some tight overs together early in Central’s innings. But those gains rapidly dissolved.
Will Young and Bayley Wiggins blazed 111 for the second wicket from just 69 balls.
Young should have gone early. He skied a shot out towards the boundary but Rae muffed the chance.
The classy right-hander then clubbed back-to-back sixes and a four much to the bowler’s horror.
Jarrod McKay received a consoling pat on the back at the end of an horrific over which cost his side 22 runs — a comforting touch which would have felt like acid.
By the time Young (40) had his off stump knocked out of the ground, the Stags were well on track to a formidable total.
But then Wiggins, who belted 80 from 64 balls, hit a lap shot to McKay and Tom Bruce (2) got a thick edge high in the air to the keeper Max Chu.
The door creaked open a smidge until Ross Taylor started sending the ball flying towards the midwicket boundary.
He chipped in with 45 from 36 balls.
The Ford Trophy game between Wellington and Canterbury at the Basin Reserve was abandoned without a ball bowled.
But there was some cricket in Auckland when the rain eventually let up. Northern Districts resumed on 68 for three and got through to 155 for seven when bad light stopped play, to nurse a lead of 177 runs with a day to play.
