A few went all right, a couple did not do much, but no-one took the bull by the horns.
Otago ended the first day of its four-day Plunket Shield match against Auckland at the University Oval on 266 for seven wickets, an all right score but far from daunting for the opposition.
The day finished half an hour early due to bad light with five overs left to bowl.
Otago, which was asked to bat by Auckland, never really got going and there were no partnerships of note.
Sam Wells is unbeaten at the crease on 46 and has North Otago youngster Nathan Smith with him on 12.
At times yesterday, Otago looked to be in a good position but it lost wickets at just the wrong time.
Derek de Boorder and Anaru Kitchen combined for a 65-run partnership before Kitchen went, caught at first slip by Michael Guptill-Bunce, off the bowling of Tarun Nethula.
De Boorder brought up his 50 and then played an ugly reverse sweep, which ballooned out on to the offside and was easily caught. It was an ugly way to end the innings.
On a gloomy day, the Auckland slow bowlers got through plenty of work with Nethula grabbing two wickets although they came at a cost.
Colin Munro, coming back into first-class cricket after missing last week because of a suspension due to bad language, showed his all-round skills, taking two wickets.
Michael Rippon missed a straight one from Munro while Gregor Croudis was caught behind to a ball which moved away.
Croudis made his first-class debut in the match, having previously played for Otago in the limited-overs format.
He batted at first drop and managed to get through to 31 before being dismissed.
Otago will be looking to push on and make as many runs as possible this morning against an Auckland team chasing hard for the title.
Canterbury was well clear on top of the table, 19 points ahead of Auckland, when the penultimate round started yesterday.
In Nelson, Canterbury ended the first day on 297 for six with veteran batsman Peter Fulton hitting a century. Paceman Adam Milne took three wickets for Central Districts.
In Mount Maunganui, Wellington decided to bat but struggled through to 151. Joe Walker took five wickets for the home side and Ish Sodhi two. Northern Districts was 11 for one in reply.
