WODONGA will look to improve it’s top-order batting against Yackandandah today.
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Sitting winless at the foot of the District ladder, the Dogs desperately need to put together a complete batting performance.
They regain batsman Jack Murphy and bowler Byron Hales to face the Roos, adding depth to their youthful line-up.
Captain Craig Borrell said an improved line-up would give them a bit of confidence.
“It’s good to have a bit of experience back,” he said.
“This will probably be one of the strongest sides we’ve fielded this season, hopefully we can put in a good effort.
“We’ll go in with a pretty simple gameplan, take more wickets and get more runs.”
Hales and the in-form Christopher Fuery have a big task ahead of them containing the Yackandandah top order, which ran riot against Dederang last round.
Their top six batsmen all got off to good starts, with Mitchell Scholz’s unbeaten 50 a highlight.
If results go Yackandandah’s way it will jump into sixth over Bethanga.
Ladder leader Kiewa comes up against fourth-placed Mt Beauty in what should be an entertaining clash.
A win would go a long way to shoring up Mt Beauty’s place in the top four, but it will be a very tough ask against the dominiant Kiewa.
The Power are more than capable of pulling off an upset, though, with a number of key players coming into form before Christmas.
Greg McLennan smashed 75no against Howlong last round, while Frank Iaria and Damien Jenvey have also been solid.
But Kiewa has consistently been a cut above the rest this season, with its only loss coming to second placed Eskdale.
Andrew Mann and Jason Bartel have been superb with the bat, while Ryan de Vries and Jacob Schliebs have proven very difficult to score against.
Baranduda will look to boost its points tally in an effort to cement its top six spot against third-placed Barnawartha-Chiltern, with Rangers all-rounder Mitch Ryan last week saying their tough run home made this a must-win game.
Currently sitting seven points ahead of sixthplaced Bethanga, a loss here would see them fall back into the logjam of teams fighting for sixth spot.
Eskdale will look to put some distance between itself and the third-placed Miners, but will have to contend with the league’s top batsman in Dederang’s Andrew Creamer.
The Mountain Men have some firepower of their own in third-ranked Shaun Baude, but they will need their bowling attack to be on song to keep on top of the dangerous Demons opener.
Bethanga will looking to close the gap on Baranduda against the ailing Howlong.
Haydyn Roberts has been terrific with the bat so far for the Saints, but they will be looking for a few more runs from their middle order to ramp up the pressure on the Rangers.
All round five matches will be played as 40-over one day games, after play was called off last week due to the rain.