Two fat ladies. Eighty-eight.
That's how many runs Otago made in its opening innings of the summer.
Northern Districts took just 30 overs and a bit over two hours to dismiss Otago on the first morning of the Plunket Shield.
For the visitors, it was a solid platform to build on, and they eventually went on to win the tournament.
For Otago, it was a clear indication the team still had plenty of work to do to be competitive in the longer form of the game.
The Volts had their best run in the middle of the tournament with a win against Wellington and two wins against Auckland - the second of which was a dramatic 24-run win at the University Oval.
But a heavy defeat to Canterbury in round eight ended their title prospects and left the Volts with only personal milestones to chase.
Fourth this season, fifth last season, fourth in 2007-08 and last in 2006-07 represents a lean return.
While the twenty/20 tournament is increasingly important and the one-day trophy sought-after, first-class performances still offer the most accurate guide of a team or player's ability.
Otago's best finish in the past five summers came in 2005-06 when it finished third, and the association has not won the title since 1987-88, when Warren Lees led Otago to wins in both the one-day and four-day competitions.
Still, Otago managed three wins this season which is three more than it managed the year before.
The Volts have struggled to take 20 wickets and still labour to pry sides out.
But the attack has a better balance, especially with the emergence of left-arm spinner Nick Beard.
While the team did not do as well as it would have hoped there were some outstanding individual performances.
Otago skipper Craig Cumming and Derek de Boorder both got their names in the record books.
De Boorder took a world record-equalling eight catches in an innings during the last match of the summer, and Cumming drew level with the great Bert Sutcliffe's haul of 17 centuries for the province.
Cumming's season tally of 924 runs was also the second-highest season total by an Otago batsman.
Only Glenn Turner has scored more.
He amassed 1027 runs in 1975-76.
During the course of the season, Cumming overtook Chris Gaffaney (4326), Turner (4439), Ken Rutherford (5051) and Bruce Blair (5057) on the list of leading Otago run-scorers.
He has scored 5237 runs for Otago at an average of 43.28 and trails only Sutcliffe, who scored 6028 runs at 59.09.
It is a fantastic record and, while the 34-year-old right-hander might be in the twilight of his career, he has been in fine touch for the past two years, scoring 1708 runs at 63.25.
There's no word on whether he will return next season but if he does decide to retire, Otago will be left with an enormous void to fill.
Neil Broom also had an impressive season with the bat, scoring 608 runs at 67.55, including three 100s, all of which were scored before Christmas.
He featured in an Otago record-breaking 306-run stand for the third wicket with Shaun Haig.
The partnership blitzed the previous mark of 227 set by Ken Rutherford and Bruce Blair, against Wellington in Oamaru in 1987-88.
Greg Todd was the next best with 561 runs at 37.40.
But he was guilty of failing to push on and convert 50s into 100s.
He got past 50 on five occasions and was dismissed twice in the 90s.
Batting all-rounder Sam Wells was a surprise package and comfortably the most improved player.
He has moved from the fringes of the squad to a first-choice player, following a breakout summer in which he took two five-wicket bags and scored two 100s.
With 478 runs at 59.75 and 21 wickets at 24.42 he was Otago's leading all-rounder and produced the sort of performances which would please a seasoned campaigner.
Perhaps the most exciting talent to emerge, though, was Beard.
He was Otago's second-leading wicket-taker with 27 scalps at 38.25.
He still has a lot of work in front of him but if he continues to improve he is sure to have a long and successful career.
He provided one of the team's highlights when he took a six-wicket bag to help Otago beat Auckland in a dramatic match.
What a sight it was, watching a bowler exploit the foot marks and spin his side to victory on the last day of a match.
Strike bowler Neil Wagner topped the wicket count for the province with 28, but he had a mixed season.
Likewise rookie Anthony Bullick.
The medium pacer bowled well at times but needs to work on his consistency.
Experienced seamer Warren McSkimming was good when he was on the park but was sidelined with injuries and missed four matches.
Black Caps Ian Butler (two games), Nathan McCullum (two) and Aaron Redmond (two) all played a limited part in the season.
Had they been available more often, Otago might have clawed its way up the ladder.
