There is always something happening when Ish Sodhi is bowling.
Maybe it is a full toss.
It could be a long hop.
But you do not want to take your eyes off the action for a second when the Northern Districts legspinner is at the crease because he can also take wickets and picked up a big bagful yesterday.
The 23-year-old, who many felt was unlucky to miss out on a test spot, was in wonderful form during day three of his side's Plunket Shield fixture against Otago at the University Oval.
Sodhi bewildered and confused some of Otago's most prolific batsman with his array of legspinners, wrong 'uns and flippers.
He was able to call the shots on a slow surface and took a career-best seven for 102 from 27.3 overs to help dismiss Otago for 287.
That left Northern chasing a modest victory target of 201 runs but, at stumps, the visiting side had slumped to 38 for three. It needs a further 163 runs in what shapes as an exciting conclusion today.
Surprisingly, Sodhi's haul was just his fourth five-wicket bag.
But based on yesterday's evidence, it will not be his last.
"I do enjoy bowling at this ground, and it offered a little bit of turn for me, so I'm glad I could make the most of it,'' Sodhi said.
In the past, Sodhi has been guilty of perhaps trying too much but yesterday he showed more patience.
He used the wrong 'un sparingly and it worked - he took three wickets with the delivery.
"I think I used it a little bit smarter. I've probably overused it in the past but I've been working on it a lot in the nets and I'm glad it showed in the game.''
As for a test call-up, well he is just focused on helping Northern win games of cricket at the moment.
"The last six months have been really important for me - in learning what consistency is all about. Whenever the test call up does come, and hopefully it does, I'll be looking forward to it but right now it is just about keeping it simple.''
A correction to the official score resulted in a further run added to Otago's overnight score of 32 for none.
It resumed 54 runs in arrears rather than 55.
Opener Hamish Rutherford was struck by a bouncer from Scott Kuggeleijn.
He shrugged it off initially and continued batting. However, he has a mild concussion and was unable to field later in the day.
Brad Wilson, who top-scored in the first innings with 97, was the more positive of the two initially, but eventually Rutherford's trademark aggression re-emerged.
He was keen not to let Sodhi settle and skipped down the wicket and launched him back over his head for six.
The pair brought up a 100-run stand from 161 balls but Sodhi was soon to have his revenge.
He softened Rutherford up with a wrong 'un but it was the next delivery which bamboozled the Otago skipper.
The left-hander shouldered arms to a regular legspinner only to watch it cannon into the top of middle stump.
Clearly not the wrong 'un he expected.
Aside from Rutherford's dismissal on 39, Otago won the session, adding 90 runs and going to lunch at 123 for one.
Northern tightened its line after the break and Wilson feathered an edge through to the keeper on 64.
His departure left the dyke fractured and the crack widened when Neil Broom dragged a wrong 'un from Sodhi back on to his stumps for nine.
Jimmy Neesham went moments later for a duck and Sodhi got rid of Derek de Boorder and Nathan McCullum before the tea break.
Michael Bracewell batted through the disappointing second session and watched Sam Wells go next.
The all-rounder skipped down the wicket but Sodhi snuck a wrong 'un past the outside edge of his bat and Tim Seifert made the stumping.
There was some confusion over Sodhi's sixth wicket.
Bracewell hit a return catch on 96 but stood his ground.
Sodhi was convinced and so were the umpires.
The video evidence was missing a crucial frame but the consensus was Bracewell had holed out, bringing a fine innings to an end.
Otago's turn at bat came to an end shortly after.
