Theoretically the scoreboard reads like the handiwork of Jason from the Friday the 13th series.
So whatever you do, don't look at the figures of despair on the wall.
That's the advice from Central Districts batsman Kruger van Wyk after he saved the Stags' blushes with 131 runs to inject some respectability into their four-day Plunket Shield game yesterday.
"You can't get too caught up with five down or six down and it doesn't pay to look at the scoreboard," Van Wyk explained, happy to contribute.
The 31-year-old wicketkeeper carved up 21 boundaries, including a lusty shot over the ropes for six, to help resurrect CD's anaemic innings to 307 all out in 84.1 overs against the Christchurch Wizards on day one.
In reply, the hosts at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, near Christchurch, were 27-1 in 12 shaky overs with teenage opener Tom Latham falling victim to CD debutant Roald Badenhorst, of Manawatu, for a three-ball duck.
Former Stag batsman George Worker, 11 not out after a ton in the last match, and skipper Peter Fulton, unbeaten on 14, were to resume Canterbury's innings this morning but rain abandoned play at 1pm.
Sitting at 73-4 at lunch after 34 overs yesterday, the salads, bread rolls and caramel squares couldn't have been too appetising for the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags.
After a promising start of 48 for none, they slumped to 78-5 with Peter Ingram, skipper Jamie How, Ben Smith, Mathew Sinclair and Greg Todd back on the sidelines in jandals.
Enter Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay batsmen Van Vyk who built patient partnerships with obliging No7 Carl Cachopa (56 runs, including 10 boundaries) and fellow Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall teammate No 9 Tarun Nethula (36 runs/7 fours).
It was South Africa-born Van Wyk's fifth first-class ton.
"It was nice to get a score to contribute towards the game on a tough wicket which offered sideways movement in the first session with their bowlers putting the ball in the right areas," he said, after Andrew Ellis triggered a domino effect on the CD top order to finish with 4-81.
The ultimate team man, Van Wyk thought the 156-ball effort flattered him somewhat, considering his first 10 to 20 runs came from numerous balls left outside the off stump.
"The last 80 runs came much quicker."
The former Wizards skipper averaged 63 last summer in his first season with CD.
Van Wyk felt it was easier to declare the worth of yesterday's century at the conclusion of the match on Wednesday because an outright victory would make his contribution mature in value but an unfavourable outcome would rob it of its gloss.
"Sure this one was special because I've worked incredibly hard so I thank the lord for that," he said, attributing his prowess to coach Alan Hunt and manager/ex-Black Cap Lance Hamilton for putting him through the spin cycle in mid-September.
"They threw a lot of balls down to me."
Patience today will be the buzz word for CD to yield a couple of early wickets in the first session for first-innings points if they are going to spur Canterbury into making a game of it with sporting declarations.
In Lincoln, the match between Auckland and Wellington was evenly poised after an unspectacular day's batting from the Aces against bottom-placed Firebirds, reaching 284-7 at stumps.
Former Black Caps opener Tim McIntosh notched his 17th first-class ton for Auckland before Jeetan Patel trapped him lbw for 104.
Colin de Grandhomme was the next best for the Aces, finishing the day on 43 not out.
Neil Parlane's seven from 60 balls before his dismissal typified Auckland's innings.
The other match, Otago Volts hosting Northern Districts in Dunedin, was rained out without a ball bowled.