New Town has found form with the bat on Saturday to shock the Greater Northern Raiders in the battle of the Cricket Tasmania Premier League minnows.
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The two clubs have won just three times this season between them in first grade and the Bucks' only victory was earlier in the season over a winless Raiders prior to the return two-day match at the NTCA No.2 Ground.
The visitors just piled on a phenomenal five declared for 353 that even Raiders captain Miles Barnard had to admit he could see coming.
"They have been struggling a bit like us - there's no doubt about that," he said.
"They certainly have got a couple of good players, but the pitch was very flat and the outfield very fast.
"I think once they won the toss and batted for the first 10 overs, we didn't really look like getting a wicket.
"It was pretty obvious from early on that we were going to be chasing quite a few."
The Bucks got off to a flyer in the opening 14 overs until former Zimbabwean international Tawanda Mupariwa was dismissed for 31 that contained six boundaries.
The Raiders struck twice more straight after lunch to have New Town delicately poised at 3-101 before things changed dramatically.
"We did try and keep a lid on it for as long as we could and you can sometimes go well from there and get a team out for 250 or 260 and at the end of the day, you'd take that," Barnard said.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"We have a pretty young team in and a little bit inexperience can start to show as the day wares on.
"If you make it like that session after tea, it's always hard for the fielding side."
Thomas Gravina was the mainstay of the top innings, unbeaten on a fine 152 off 184 balls that included 21 fours and three sixes.
Barnard had to concede while New Town was a game the Raiders have penciled in for a win, the Bucks would have taken the same approach against their rivals.
"They have been starved of a big runs and they would have been keen to get in on a good batting pitch, a fast outfield and have made the most of it," Barnard said.
"They look like a good side - I am not really sure why they haven't done better than what they have."
The declaration five overs before stumps did not shock Barnard, but the form opener took advantage - 15 off his first 17 balls. Brodie Hayes remains three not out as the hosts sit at 0-18 overnight.
"When you're chasing 350, it's never easy," Barnard said.
"The pitch this week is very benign. I just hope the pitch this week resembles the one we play on next week."
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