Greater Northern Raiders coach Andrew Gower has been left scathing after team rules were broken out in the middle that led to a 112-run loss to University at Windsor Park.
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The home side just surrendered too many boundaries - 23 fours in addition to four sixes - and was set a challenging 266 to run down.
Pressure built up from the top of the order finally erupted when the Raiders crumbled to lose their final seven wickets for 32 runs.
"We asked them [our bowlers] to bowl six balls in the same areas," Gower said.
"Apart from James Beattie, who was exceptional with the ball, the other bowlers really struggled to hit their line and length.
"It felt like we just gave up a four-ball nearly every over - if you look through the numbers, some overs went for 8, 10, 12.
"They rode their luck a little bit, but we just couldn't execute for long enough that really hurt us."
Ex-Glenorchy runmaker Nuwan Kavinda top-scored with 55 from 57 balls, Queensland Shield prodigy Sam Truloff hit 48 off 45 while allrounder Andrew Keely scored 46 of Uni's final 65 runs until removed off the final ball.
Beattie proved tight with 1-30 off 10 overs as Jono Chapman took three pricey scalps.
"That was the most disappointing part. We've trained really hard on bowling six balls on the same spot, but again we've lacked that execution today," Gower said.
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"That's what you've got to do at this level.
"We're playing against good players."
North-West pair Miles Barnard and Brodie Hayes put on 31 runs in the opening seven overs before the Raiders went on a go slow.
The next nine overs produced just 12 as Uni tightened the screws.
Hayes finished with 42 off 94 balls and Jake Williams struggled with 12 off 38.
Alistair Taylor did lift the tempo with 26 from 31 deliveries, but the dismissal of the vice-captain set the Raiders back somewhat.
"The middle overs, we were again not able to put enough pressure on their bowlers," Gower said. "Just too many of our overs were maidens, ones or twos."
Kavinda capped off a brilliant game, snaring the last half of Raiders' wickets for 5-37.
Gower has hinted at reshuffling the batting lineup that will be heightened off the return of Singaporean international Anish Paraam.
"We have to be smarter in the way we go about it," Gower said.
"We have to continue to go at threes and fours an over to explode and get 100 off the last 15. Not get 200 off 20."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
