MOUNT Beauty’s Greg McLennan fell just a boundary shy of a ton as the Power stamped itself as a genuine premiership hope on Saturday.
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The Power were struggling early after Ashan Ranaweera and Mark Betheras were dismissed for ducks at Yackandandah.
But Mount Beauty lost only one more wicket as it powered to 3-188 from 40 overs.
Ranaweera and the promoted Oscar Jensen then restricted the Roos’ batting line-up to 141.
Last year’s grand finalists lost four wickets for just two runs in a top order collapse that all but ended their chances.
The game was reduced to a one-dayer because the ground is not available this weekend.
It takes the Power to three wins from four games.
Captain Will Betheras said a long-term goal to bat in partnerships was paying dividends.
“When we lost those two wickets cheaply it didn’t look good but in all three wins this year we have been able to regroup and bat in partnerships to build a score,” he said.
“We know if we can put together two or three partnerships we are going to score runs, win games.
“It is something we haven’t done well in recent years.”
Betheras also praised Ranaweera (4-7) and Jensen (3-25).
“Ashan was almost unplayable, they struggled to get him off the square,” he said.
“He took two wickets with two balls but watched his hat-trick delivery get belted to the fence for four.
“Jensen has been bowling well in second grade and was rewarded with a call-up and ended up with three wickets.
“He is just one of a number of young blokes in the side who have really stood up this year.”
Betheras said Mount Beauty needed as many points as possible before the Christmas break.
“In the second half of the summer we play all the top sides — Eskdale, Kiewa and Barnawartha-Chiltern,” he said.
“It is a pretty tough run into finals so we need to bank as many points as we can right now.”
The top of the table clash between Eskdale and the Miners is evenly poised at Eskdale.
The home team was bundled out for just 126, but hit back late to reduce the visitors to 3-34.