The drought is over.
After 13 long years, Jeet Raval's Northern Districts have lifted the Plunket Shield once more.
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The storybook ending also provided the perfect finishing touch for first-time winner, the lion-hearted BLACKCAP Neil Wagner, on the final day of his 17-year New Zealand Domestic career.
Only one session was required on the final day in Dunedin, and Wagner was centre stage with his last five-wicket bag in the ND jersey.
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Northern Districts had begun the day needing seven wickets to get the outright that would guarantee them the title.
The day was overcast, the air misty, and you could cut the atmosphere at University of Otago Oval with a knife as autumn dew again delayed proceedings.
What if there was bad light? Drizzle? Not enough time? All the usual doubts that swirl around. But after just 30 minutes, with only the barest hint of sun in the vicinity, Raval led his men onto the field, and the action began.
Just five and a half overs later, Neil Wagner had his first wicket of the morning - to add to the one he'd taken on the previous afternoon. Dean Foxcroft was caught, and a serious obstacle was gone.
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Raval spelled Wagner and Kristian Clarke, and brought on Josh Brown and Scott Johnston, and then himself, with Brown's double strike getting the Volts six down before Raval called Wagner back to crease at 214/6.
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Thorn Parkes had just raised his 50 for the Volts, but Wagner got him with his very first ball of his second spell.
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He would soon add two more wickets for a bag of 5/53, including concussion substitute Ben Lockrose after Andrew Hazeldine had unfortunately misjudged a Wagner bouncer and been struck on the side of the head.
That left just one wicket standing between Northern and the glory.
Spinner Henry Cooper did the honours to follow his father into the first-class history books.
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For many of the Northern Districts players, this was their first Plunket Shield success.
Others, including Raval (once with CD and twice with Auckland), had tasted the title with other teams.
After careers with Otago and then ND, and now back at the ground where his New Zealand chapter all began, Wagner had waited 17 years to touch this beautiful 1907 trophy.
It was worth the wait. And it couldn't have been a better ending for a fantastic exponent of the New Zealand game who left the field to a guard of honour from his teammates.
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WHAT THEY SAID
Jeet Raval:
"It's a massive relief, to be honest.
"We came very close last year and we were disappointed not to get our hands on it; and this year we've played amazing cricket.
"I think we've been the best team in the competition, so it's nice to come away with the Shield and yeah - really, really pleased.
"My bowling? I call it daytime robbery! I was just trying to do a job for the team.
"We've got a few fast bowlers and sometimes they need a rest, so I bring myself on to give them a rest! Things just worked out. I managed to contribute with a couple of wickets here and there.
"Scott Kuggeleijn, Neil Wagner and, in this game, Matt Bacon created nice footmarks for me to aim at and, when I was batting, I had a look down and was quite excited by those.
"I managed to land a couple in there and they got wickets. Very happy.
"Neil Wagner is lion-hearted, and you saw it in the way he went about it today, charging in over after over. Bouncer after bouncer. And just not giving in.
"It epitomises what he is about as a player and the cricketer he turned himself into.
"His first Plunket Shield title in 17 years: that is a nice way to bow out. You look back and reflect on all the years of hard work and everything he has done to this point.
"The next few days, I think all the emotions will come out as we reflect. But it's a happy way to finish.
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"Everybody who has played for us this season has contributed.
"It's been a real collective effort, and also our management and support staff, it's been a real team effort. Some of the boys have been toiling away for 12, 15 years, and so this is good reward for all the hard work."
Neil Wagner:
"It's the cherry on the top, today. I couldn't have asked for a better ending.
"The Plunket Shield is one of the only things I hadn't achieved with a team or won, and to do that in your last game is definitely a tick off the bucket list. A pretty special day, to end what's been a very special time in New Zealand.
"I'd been second a lot. Got close a lot, with Otago and with ND.
"Last season was one of them. To not get over the line was gutting, and as a team we set out to get that right this season. Everyone made contributions. Everyone had played their part and I've just been so bloody proud to be a part of this Association, this team.
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"Jeet has been an outstanding leader, and BJ and Flynny, the way they coached. Hats off to them.
"The end was pretty special, and the guard of honour - a very nice touch, it hopefully means you played a part in some of these guys' lives and careers, and the way you played the game... even though I sort of feel awkward in those moments; I tried to walk through as quick as possible!
"It's been an amazing 17 years playing in this beautiful country with my heart and my soul on my sleeve, to try and win trophies. I've got so many people to thank that I can't thank them all enough.
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"So many people have played a huge part. They know who they are. I want to say thank you for the support. All my teammates, old mates, friends, the people and staff from my two Major Associations and New Zealand Cricket.
"To my wife Lana, and my kids. They sent me a nice message this morning. They are the driving force behind it and yeah, my whole family - I just love them to bits."
