A standout century from Brodie Hayes could not halt a four-game losing start for the Greater Northern Raiders.
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The four-wicket defeat at New Town had ensured the Bucks earned a first victory for 19 months coming after a winless 2018-19 campaign.
Hayes did give the Raiders their best shot of breaking their season hoodoo, racking up a focused three-hour 108 from 144 balls that included eight fours and a six.
The Burnie left-hander's superb knock however was spoiled when the perennial whipping boys of the Cricket Tasmania Premier League smashed their final 100 just inside 11 overs while losing the one wicket.
The visitors reached 3-255 in the 48 overs permitted, but New Town's four-wicket win came with two overs to spare.
The ever consummate team man, Hayes was quick to play down the Raiders' run of outs through October.
"I wouldn't say it was frustrating as such - obviously we're doing everything we can at this stage," Hayes said.
"We have had a really good preseason and it's only our second year. We haven't got a heap of experience, but we do feel like we are putting in more consistent performances across the board."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Hayes has notched up 50, 42, 4 and now 108 to average 51 in a reassuring start at the top of the Raiders' order.
He now has the honour of being the third Raiders centurion after Jake Williams (140) and Shaun Harris (173).
"I felt pretty good throughout the year so far, but haven't managed to go on and make a big score," he said.
"So I do feel like I am hitting the ball pretty well just at the moment."
Hayes overshadowed 72 from Anish Paraam and 35 from Williams. New Town were under pressure when the hosts lost 4-45 between the 29th and 36th overs.
But Mitchell Owen slaughtered 70 off 37 balls and skipper Tawanda Mupariwa hit a run-a-ball 33 for the Bucks.
"We bowled okay in patches we felt," Hayes said.
"They've got a few good batters, obviously as most teams do have here.
"We knew that 250-odd was only par and we had to bowl well to win the game.
"Unfortunately we just fell away at stages through the middle and a few batters got away at the end as well."
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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.
