Last Saturday, Hawkesdale put in a solid day with the bat, compiling 217 at the Panmure Recreation Reserve. Brad Smith top-scored with 86.

Fifth-placed Panmure saw out the final two overs of the day safely and will resume at 0-4 today in a game it needs to win to keep in touch with the top four.

For Hawkesdale, bright batting form shown last week was a major step forward, with the team in the midst of a six-game losing streak.

Hawkesdale captain Josh Julius said he was confident his team could put some serious pressure on the Panmure batting line-up today.

“We have a good bowling line-up and I think we are more than capable of defending a score of 217,” Julius said.

“Over the course of the season we have had to change our team a bit due to availability but we have a couple of young blokes in Lachlan Glare and David West who have done a great job in leading the attack.

“Rory Towler has also come on well as a leg-spinner and he has had some success against Panmure, so we will use him as a good attacking weapon.

“Panmure have been a great team for a long time and they bat deep, so they warrant a lot of respect.”

Julius said Hawkesdale would be looking to remove key Panmure batsmen Chris Bant and James McKinnon early.

In other games, it is another Julius who will take centre stage when Ben Julius resumes on 53 not out for Yambuk in its run chase against Wangoom.

The Buks will begin day two on 0-70 in pursuit of Wangoom’s 195.

At Killarney, the home team will be in the box seat for a win when it takes to the batting crease against Grassmere.

The Crabs start the day at 3-73 as they look to chase down Grassmere’s 96. The game that holds the most intrigue is at Purnim where the home team takes on Mailors Flat.

Mailors Flat took the points last week when it  made 72 and then bowled out Purnim for just 53.

In its second dig, Mailors Flat is 0-13 setting up a day where both teams look capable of grabbing an outright result.