Otago coach Rob Walter was not feeling frustrated in the slightest despite Central Districts batting all day and denying his side victory.
The Volts dominated the first three days of their Plunket Shield fixture against the Stags but did not get the rewards due as the visiting side held on for a draw at the University Oval yesterday.
Central resumed on seven for one and had reached 266 for seven at stumps.
Otago certainly applied plenty of pressure. Neil Wagner removed opener Greg Hay in the second over of the day and the fall of two quick wickets after the tea break breathed life back into the match.
But Doug Bracewell (26 not out) and newcomer Christian Leopard (31 not out) survived the second new ball and testing spells from Wagner, Jacob Duffy and Jimmy Neesham.
The home side shelled a couple of catches which did not help, and nor did a ground delay at the venue which reduced the minimum amount of overs by 13.
With the win eluding Otago, there was a potential for frustration to set in. But Walter felt his side had played well throughout the match and it was hard to be too disappointed.
''We would have loved to have got over the line, obviously,'' Walter said.
''But I thought the guys toiled hard. Potentially we had a few decisions not go our way, we put down a catch and, if we look back, we had our chances to win the game. But I can't fault the effort that the guys have put in.
''We have set out to improve our four-day cricket this season and we've registered six hundreds in three games ... and we are certainly moving in the right direction.''
Nightwatchman Ajaz Patel nicked the ball through the slips twice. The first was a tough chance which eluded Neesham but the second really should have gone to hand. Neesham just misjudged the catch.
Anaru Kitchen dropped Will Young on nine as well.
Otago bowled well all day but particularly in the opening hour. Wagner never let up and got the early reward of Hay.
But Patel (45) and Mitchell Renwick (48) added 86 for the third wicket. They both perished after lunch but had helped get their side closer to safe ground.
Young and Tom Bruce continued the resistance with a stand of 80.
But the break worked in Otago's favour again. Bruce was bowled by Neesham for 55 a couple of overs before the second new ball became available.
Wagner used the new ball to pick up the prized scalp of Young for 27 with a delivery which tailed back in late and trapped the batsman lbw.
Dane Cleaver's dismissal 10 overs later exposed rookie Leopard to enormous pressure. But he hung in with Bracewell until stumps.
The draw was not much good for either side. Otago is in last place with 17 points from three games, while Central is one higher with 18 points.
Meanwhile, Auckland gave Wellington a fright at Eden Park Outer Oval. With the side chasing 342 for the win, outo-of-form New Zealand opener Martin Guptill scored an undefeated 128. Rob Nicol scored 62 from 66 balls but Auckland came up short at 276 for six.
Earlier, Firebirds captain Michael Papps had declared before lunch at 240 for nine. Auckland legspinner Tarun Nethula claimed his second five-wicket bag of the season with five for 71.
Northern Districts beat Canterbury by 21 runs at Seddon Park. Canterbury's last pairing of Henry Shipley and Ed Nuttall added 33 in a valiant attempt to reach the target.
But Shipley's luck ran out on 26 when he attempted to put James Baker over the short square leg boundary. Ish Sodhi leapt high to snare the ball with his left hand.
