Greater Northern Raiders take on North Hobart full of confidence for good reason.
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The daring rookies took it all the way to the penultimate ball in their last clash against the Twenty20 champions.
Their last-gasp win only off a misfield whose quick single to tie up the scores turned into a three ensured North Hobart a place in the final.
Coach Andrew Gower has not forgotten the intensity his erratic Raiders produced just last month. He fancies their chances of a 50-over upset at the TCA Ground.
“We put on a really good performance against North Hobart in the T20 game – we took them deep into the last over,” Gower said.
“So we know that [Caleb] Jewell and most likely [Jake] Doran will be tied up with the Hurricanes, but Alex Pyecroft will almost likely play, so that will be challenged.
“They’re full of beans after winning the T20 competition and they’re having a really good season. As I’ve said, we think we can get the job done against one of the sides in the next three games and North Hobart is our first target.”
Pyecroft is set to bowl to former Launceston Church Grammar classmate Alex Taylor after the pair had also started together at the Lions.
But Gower said despite taking a 10 wickets in just his only two Sheffield Shield appearances so far, Pyecroft could fly under the radar.
“I don’t think the rest of the boys know who he is,” Gower said. “He has had a wonderful start to his Shield career, he’s in wonderful form and will be challenging.”
A nine-wicket loss to competition pacesetters Lindisfarne last week in Burnie has not dented the coach’s faith.
“We didn’t get the job done, but there were some positives to come out of that,” he said. “Our batting for the season has been really solid – it’s been our shining light.”
Hayes will represent the Tasmanian indigenous side while Shaun Redman returns to Burnie to cover for the number of Hurricanes that will join Hayes. Batter Ben Bodha will play for Mowbray, while allrounder Jono Chapman and spinner Alex Kerrison head back to Westbury
Opening batsman Shaun Harris, allrounders Lachie Newland, Liam Ryan and Anish Paraam join debutant Blake Cassidy in the squad.