As far as fairytales go, the one involving retiring stalwart Michael Mason and the Ford Trophy-winning Central Districts side is right up there with the best.
Mason, a 37-year-old veteran who made his domestic one-day debut way back in 1997-98, was the hero as CD stole the most unlikely of two-wicket victories over defending champions Auckland at Pukekura Park on Sunday.
After taking 3-52 in Auckland's innings of 282-8, Mason came in at a near impossible juncture needing 58 off 28 balls.
His final act as a CD player – if that is to be the case – will be etched into local folklore forever as he thumped an unbeaten 41 off 19 balls, including four fours and two sixes, to get his side over the line.
It was his highest score in 134 one-day games and in fact was more than double of any previous effort.
It seemed that another veteran, Neal Parlane, would be the man hoisted on shoulders when his 106 boosted the visitors to their imposing total.
It was Parlane's third one-day century and amazingly, in a career that started around the same time as Mason's, two of them have come in the space of five days. He scored another on Wednesday to guide Auckland past Otago in the knockout semi-final.
Colin Munro also made a major contribution with a typically hard-hit 68 not out off 51 balls, while captain Gareth Hopkins weighed in with 47 off 52.
CD needed a fast start and weren't able to achieve when having the top knocked off their batting card by a former team-mate.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell McClenaghan, a CD player as recently as last season, dismissed Jamie How (12), Carl Cachopa (5) and Mathew Sinclair (2) to reduce the home side to 35-3.
A partnership of solidarity was required and it came from Dean Robinson and captain Kruger van Wyk, putting on 113 for the fourth wicket.
The pair fell within six runs of each other at 148, with Robinson making a steady 63 and van Wyk more speedy in scoring 66.
They needed powerful cameos down the order and one was forthcoming from recent ODI debutant Tarun Nethula.
Known for his leg-spin more than his batting, Nethula peeled off 43 from 32 but with he, Kieran Noema-Barnett (16) and Bevan Small (4) falling in a clump it was basically game over.
But Mason had other ideas. He and Marty Kain, who had earlier bowled very tidily to take 1-30 off eight overs of left-arm spin, set about their task with aplomb.
Unfortunately for McClenaghan, someone had to cop the treatment and it was him.
His 10 overs went for 80, including the second to last over which leaked 20 and left CD needing only five – as a tie would have been enough to give the round robin leaders the title – to lift the inaugural Ford Trophy.
Chris Martin did his best to pull it back in the last over as he hit a full length with better success but it was to be Mason's day.
It ruined Auckland's bid to win a trifecta of titles in 2011-12 after lifting the HRV Cup Twenty20 title in January, although they have the prospect of a Champions League bid later in the year to content themselves with.