Power, Dees to defend small totals

Written by By DARCY MARTIN and SCOTT ANDERSON.

MT Beauty will be hoping for big performances from its bowlers when they take to the field for the second day of their clash against Wodonga Raiders.

Things started badly for the Power on Saturday with young opener Jeremy Peacock being sent back to the pavilion for a duck.

Will Betheras couldn’t get the runs ticking over either and was caught out shortly afterwards for one.

Ashan Ranaweera was the man to do the job for the Power, teaming up with captain Al Randell to put on a partnership of 48 before Randell was dismissed.

But that didn’t stop Ranaweera from bringing up his half century before eventually being caught for 62.

Coach Steve Pask was unable to capitalise on a solid start that included four boundaries, falling for 19, while Damian Jenvey (1) and Frank Iaria (0) quickly departed.

With the Power still in need of more runs at 7/120, Beau Cook took to the crease with some big hitting which included four sixes from his 25 runs.

Both Greg McLennan and Shannon Carter chipped in with 16 apiece to help the side to a total of 167.

The Power then took to the field for an eight over session that saw opening bowler Shannon Carter trap one of the Raiders openers in front, to finish the day with the Wodonga side 1/20.

STILL chasing its first win of the Cricket Albury Wodonga season, Dederang will need a big effort with the ball when its clash with Lavington resumes this Saturday.

The Demons were in all sorts of trouble after being sent in to bat on the Wilson Oval wicket, with the early loss of skipper Andrew Creamer (5) the catalyst for a collapse that saw the visitors slump to 5/35.

But instead of dropping their heads and allowing the Panthers to dictate terms, the Demons hit back, mainly through the efforts of Tom Grealy.

Grealy smashed a masterful 76, which included a couple of big sixes and 11 fours.

He wasn’t the only one to flay the Panthers about, with tail-enders Chris Simpson (18), Luke Deans (14) and Beau Packer (13) all spending valuable time in the middle as Dederang mounted a defendable tally of 168.

An early breakthrough with the ball, with Simpson dismissing danger man Andrew Maggs (3), had the Demons up and about.

But the wickets dried up thereafter, with the Panthers adding another 46 runs without loss to head in at 1/50.

Chasing another 119 runs with nine wickets in hand this weekend, Lavington has the upper hand, but Dederang will no doubt be desperate to cause the upset.