Greater Northern Raiders are set to turn back the clock three months to run down an imposing target against New Town on Saturday for victory.
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Returning to bat on the same strip that orchestrated six declared for 307 against top-of-the-table Lindisfarne batting first, the Raiders this time need to pass five for 359 over the last-placed Bucks.
A third season win at the NTCA No.2 Ground will also ensure the Raiders avoid the dreaded wooden spoon at the expense of their rivals for two seasons running.
The hosts had reached 0-19 off five overs last week and will have a further 96 overs to add 341 runs more.
Coach Andrew Gower is feeling reassured over the wicket being "very flat" and that the batters "do get good value for their runs".
"So we're going to have a crack at it," he said.
"The wicket and also the outfield is very good.
"While it is probably 50 runs more than we really did want to chase, we know that we have got a fight on our hands and we're now looking forward to the challenge."
That drawn-out encounter against Lindisfarne had left its fancied opposition justifiably frustrated, as the upstarts batted 130 overs to blunt eight different bowlers that didn't even come close to bowling the Raiders out.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
The Lightning chased the runs down in the 54th over, scoring at 5.85 runs an over.
Gower is hoping against a weaker New Town attack than that of Lindisfarne, the Raiders can bat for long periods first before taking the challenge up to the visitors.
"The start is critical for us as we really need to be going into the last session with wickets in hand," he said.
"So that way if the run rate does get up to five or six, you can play it like a one-day game. We're really happy in our top order - the top four have been really solid of late and we're feeling confident they can take the game deep."
Miles Barnard will resume in his best career form for the Raiders while Brodie Hayes has proven his ability to bat a long innings this season with two centuries to his name.
"We're going to take it an over at a time," Barnard said.
'We'll be looking to bat all day and if we bat all day, we'll see where we are at late.
"I know if we don't bat all day, we definitely won't win."
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