Greater Northern Raiders are hoping a bonding session from their overnight stay in Hobart can create a missing spark on Sunday to capture a maiden season victory.
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The key Cricket Tasmania Premier League battle with North Hobart still remains in the balance on Saturday's stumps at the TCA Ground.
Captain Miles Barnard said the extra time together, away from the distance between Burnie and Launceston, and same day travel to Hobart, could well plot the downfall of the Demons batsmen.
"It's definitely beneficial to have all the guys together for 24 hours or so," Barnard said.
"Obviously, we just don't spend as much time together as other teams considering our geographical separation. It will be a team-bonding weekend and be good for us."
That started in the final half hour where the Raiders had wrested the control back from a cruising North Hobart.
Their bowlers put the stops on the home side, restricting North Hobart to just five runs in the final eight overs.
The Demons did not add a run in the final 19 deliveries of the day amid the removal of opener Kyle Scrimegour (23) to seamer Ollie Wood.
North Hobart finished at 1-48 after Greater Northern Raiders earlier compiled 178.
Barnard felt the Raiders had made enough inroads besides the solitary wicket from the 23 overs bowled.
"We actually bowled quite well, one side of the wicket and we bowled to our plans, no doubt," Barnard said.
"They batted really well, didn't play any risky shots and batted within themselves. It was a real tussle and we did finally get that breakthrough. We feel there is a fair bit to play for tomorrow.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"We have to bowl really well again and hopefully can sneak a couple of early ones."
Tasmanian Shield regular Caleb Jewell is listed to bat at No.4, the Demons captain electing to take no risks and send in a nightwatchman.
The Raiders' batting flow constantly fluctuated and at times they were tracking for more than 200 but also soon after 150 looked ambitious.
Barnard was nonplussed a week after the side - without the Devonport Orions star - declared 6-307 off 130 overs.
"It was a funny old game. We lost a couple early wickets, then there was a couple decent partnerships, and when were 2-80, it looked like we might get a few more, but all of sudden when were 8-130 and ended sneaking close to 180," Barnard said.
"It wasn't too bad of an effort at the end of the day. There was a little bit of assistance there for the bowlers so it wasn't as bad as it seems."
For one of the rare times in this season, North Hobart will bat in similar conditions to the Raiders rather than the seven-day evolution of strips.
Jake Williams returned to welcome form, the Westbury teen the cornerstone of the innings with 51 off 106 balls including six boundaries.
He and Anish Paraam (19) put on 62 for the third wicket.
The next best was 44 runs for the ninth after keeper Sam Elliston-Buckley scored 37 following his 41 on debut.
In between all that, five other partnerships could only muster 50 runs combined.
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