Miles Barnard and Brodie Hayes nearly blew away their past combined partnerships - 103 runs last summer from the eight times the pair strode to the crease together - during Saturday's 50-over match against Clarence.

But not even a strong 87-run stand - the club's second highest for the opening wicket to Barnard combining with Anish Paraam for 95 in a December Twenty20 clash - could save the Raiders from an eight-wicket defeat.

Hayes compiled a steady 50 from 111 balls after Barnard fell first for a subdued 37 in 80 off the first delivery of the 30th over.

But the Raiders played out 61 dot balls in the final 21 overs to add just a further 73 runs in a below-par 7-160 at Kangaroo Bay Oval.

Jake Williams was the last man dismissed in the final over for 23 off 58 balls.

"We just lost our way in the middle overs. There was just no urgency, we didn't turn the strike over and got ourselves into a bit of a hole," Raiders coach Andrew Gower said.

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"We obviously tried to hit out at the end to get us a bit of a total that was respectable, but we thought we were between 60, even 100 short of where we needed to be for a competitive total.

The wicket was great, the outfield was really good so it was a bit disappointing."

Clarence, who twice last season had the wood on the Raiders, never looked in danger of reaching the modest target.

Daniel Salpietro knocked around 64 off 82 balls and Harrison Allanby 54 off 66 in a 122-run opening partnership.

The Roos pair combined for 15 fours alone inside 25 overs to the Raiders' seven in 50.

"We bowled some really good stuff early without luck," Gower said.

"They took their chances and hit through the field and over the field, and take our hats off to the way they played - they played with some really good intent and certainly put the bad ball away."

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