Unless something completely unexpected happens at the University Oval today, Otago will give Craig Cumming the send-off he deserves.
The long-serving batsman will hang up his batting gloves after 12 years with the province as soon as Otago takes the remaining four Wellington wickets in the Plunket Shield match.
The visiting side reached 207 for six at stumps on day three yesterday, needing a further 200 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Luke Woodcock will resume on 22, with Harry Boam on 20.
They certainly will not just give up but Wellington's chances of hanging on for an unlikely draw went from slim to wafer-like with spinner Nathan McCullum picking up three wickets, including the crucial scalp of James Franklin, yesterday.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said it would be fitting if his side could send Cumming into retirement with one more good memory.
"Wellington won't roll over like they did in the first innings. But having the key wickets of [Grant ] Elliott and Franklin are a bonus to us," he said.
"It will be a sad day for Craig but I think it will be more memorable for him if we end up with maximum points, get off the bottom of the table and see him out with a good performance."
McCullum could be crucial to that plan. He bowled an impeccable length and was able to use the foot marks created by left-arm strike bowler Neil Wagner to get some extra turn.
"I was really pleased with the way Nathan bowled today. He created a lot of pressure and it is probably the first time he has had a buffer up his sleeve and been able to bowl the way he can bowl."
Having dismissed Wellington for a dismal 112 on the opening day, Otago declared at 519 for eight with a massive first-innings lead of 407 runs.
That left Wellington with the best part of two days' batting just to avoid defeat. The visitors showed more resolve in their second innings, despite suffering the early setback of losing Michael Papps.
Josh Brodie survived some confident appeals but he applied himself at the crease and combined with Stephen Murdoch in a good partnership of 58 runs.
It took a brilliant delivery from McCullum shortly before lunch to separate the pair. The experienced campaigner got the ball to turn sharply out of the foot marks.
Murdoch shouldered arms and thrust his leading pad towards the ball, only to see the delivery slip past and knock his off stump out of the ground.
Brodie raised his seventh first-class 50 and his resistance was starting to frustrate the Otago attack. Jimmy Neesham had a shy at the stumps, more in annoyance than in belief he could catch the batsman short of his ground.
The ball cannoned into the batsman's leg guards. The usual wave of apology was not forthcoming. Neesham turned his back and returned to his mark.
The incident seemingly broke Brodie's concentration. He got a healthy edge to the next delivery.
Franklin added his name to the long list of Wellington batsmen who shouldered arms in this game when he was bowled by McCullum. But the big breakthrough came when Elliott followed Franklin's example and was trapped lbw by Wagner for 45.
Otago resumed in the morning on 486 for seven, somewhat surprisingly deciding against declaring overnight. The home side added a further 33 runs in 29min, with the declaration coming when Wagner holed out on 32.
More startling details emerged about Hamish Rutherford's remarkable double century on day two. It turns out the left-hander fractured his wrist when he was struck by fast bowler Andy McKay early in the day. Rutherford believes he was on 112 at the time and he continued, scoring another 100 runs and more, to reach 239.
The 22-year-old's wrist is in a cast and he spent yesterday watching proceedings from the players' viewing area.
Johnson described his innings as "one of the best four-day innings" he had seen.
"I thought he showed a lot of mental hardness to bat through with an injury. But also his leaving [the ball] and the areas he played in was near on 100%.
"He has proven if you bat long periods, you get the rewards."
