Dean Elgar understands that on another day his story could have been written very differently after a lucky escape in the first Test against the Blackcaps in Dunedin.
The South African opening batsman ended the day on 128no as the visitors grafted their way to 229/4 - but it should have been a much shorter day for the 29-year-old.
Blackcaps wicket-keeper BJ Watling grassed a catchable chance with Trent Boult's first ball after lunch when Elgar, 36 at the time, nicked one down the leg-side.
Elgar said you have to make the most of good fortune, especially on a tough wicket.
"That ball should have gone for four," he joked after the day's play.
"I nicked it and BJ dropped it... one day it goes your way, one day it doesn't."
Elgar believes the Proteas could wrest complete control away from the home side with a good first session of batting on day two on Thursday thanks to the solid effort on the opening day of the series.
"I think we are in a very good position. I think four down on a wicket that, it seemed like with the newer ball that anything can happen.
"To be four down after 90 overs of Test cricket we will take that, and even though our scoring was slow, I think the nature of playing in Dunedin is quite slow and you just have to understand that the wicket is going to be like that."
The century maker heaped praise on the Blackcaps bowling effort, acknowledging the difficult task they faced on a wicket that wasn't giving much back to the bowlers.
"They bowled pretty well on a wicket that hasn't really assisted them too much but they were very disciplined."
"It was right up there with one of the tougher days of Test cricket so far in my career, their bowlers are quality (Trent) Boult, (Neil) Wagner and Jeeten Patel so it was hard graft.
Day two is scheduled to start at 11am on Thursday.
Newshub.