There was something symmetrical in the tale.
Richard Crockett, playing his first match in Wanganui senior cricket for 11 years, was given an 11-over first spell on Saturday.
Pretty tough work for a man who bowls a bit above medium pace. But the truth is, they couldn't get the ball out of his hand.
Crockett, who shone for the Collegiate first XI and Wanganui way back in 1998-99, took six wickets for 17 in his return, this time playing for St Johns Tech against Gunnaz Saracens. It was a match-winning performance. And he wanted eight.
"I can't complain about six, I wouldn't have expected that in my first match. Eleven overs straight after 11 years off, it was a tough day. But I was trying to get eight wickets, I kept going looking for that."