Chasing the Demons’ 9-173 in their one-day clash at Atkins Street, the Goers needed four to win with Gray on strike to Mitch Winter-Irving (0-27) with two balls left in the innings.

With the pressure on, Gray – in his first game in the first XI for the season – rose to the occasion, launching Winter-Irving over the mid-wicket fence for six to secure the Goers a win that keeps them nine points inside the top four at the mid-season break.

Gray finished 16 n.o off 12 balls, while the Goers’ innings of 8-176 was anchored by captain Shane Koop.

The opening batsman made his second-consecutive half-century with a knock of 67, batting through until he was sixth wicket to fall with the score at 156.

Medium-pacer Michael Peters took the last five wickets for the Demons as he had a career-best day with the ball in bagging 5-27 off nine overs, which included knocking over the stumps of Mark Ryan (29), Tom Hart (0) and Mitchell Bench (14).

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Earlier, the Demons fought their way from 2-5 following the cheap dismissals of openers Linc Jacobs (1) and Ryan Grundy (1) to 9-173 off their 45 overs after winning the toss.

He couldn’t replicate his centuries of his previous two games at Atkins Street, but Winter-Irving’s 59 was the Demons’ top score.

Before his heroics with the bat, Gray picked up 3-22 with the ball, including dismissing Winter-Irving lbw, as he made the most of his elevation from the second XI.

While the Goers are an entrenched nine points inside the top four, the Demons are now two games out.

• Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat both had overseas recruits score centuries in the Dragons’ seven-run victory at Weeroona Oval.

With a spot in the top four at the mid-season break on offer for the winner, the Dragons’ tally of 6-251 after they were invited to bat just proved enough against the Roos.

Opening batsman Nayana Palamandadige from Sri Lanka scored the Dragons’ first century of the season with his classy 114 off 120 that featured 14 boundaries and one six.

Palamandadige now has four scores above 50 in seven innings this season, with Saturday’s 114 following on from an unbeaten 70 the previous week.

Ash Gray again provided plenty of entertainment with a 26-ball 40 that included five sixes, while Shane Robinson finished unbeaten on 31.

Jamie Dass was the best of the Kangaroo Flat bowlers with 2-32 – which included dismissing Palamandadige – before the Englishman later scored the game’s second century.

Dass – who came in at 3-51 – made 101 off 96 with six fours and six sixes in the gallant Roos’ tally of 8-244.

The Roos’ innings included a 112-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Dass and Adam Burns (39 n.o.), while earlier Jake Klemm made 41 before he was the first of three victims for Dragons’ off-spinner Sam Sperling (3-32).

• Eaglehawk’s Cory Jacobs fell four runs short of a maiden first XI century in his side’s seven-wicket win over Bendigo United at Canterbury Park.

Chasing the Redbacks’ 7-212, the Hawks won with 33 balls to spare as they answered with 3-213 led by 96 from skipper Jacobs.

Jacobs and Anthony West again got the Hawks off to a strong start with an 83-run opening partnership.

The pair have opened the batting together five times this season, with four of their partnerships at least 66.

West scored at better than a run-a-ball in making 45 off 42, while Jacobs’ 96 (10 fours) is his new highest first XI score.

Jacobs’ opportunity for a first century ended when he was caught and bowled by Jordan Quirk (1-32) with the Hawks’ 10 runs shy of victory.

The competition’s leading run-scorer, Jeremy Brown, finished unbeaten on 40, giving him 464 runs at an average of 77.3 at the mid-season break.

Earlier, Hawks’ veteran Andrew Smith claimed his 300^th first XI wicket when he had Jake Thrum (26) caught by Nicholas Farley.

Smith also dismissed Riley Treloar (2) as part of his 2-37 off eight overs.

The Redbacks’ 7-212 included a 72-run partnership for the second wicket between the side’s two top scorers – Tyson Templeton (44) and Harry Donegan (42).

Templeton’s 44 came off 36 balls and included 30 of his runs coming in fours (six) and sixes (one).

• Scott Trollope’s maiden first XI century was the highlight of Golden Square’s seven-wicket victory over Strathfieldsaye at Wade Street.

Square took 36.4 overs to answer Strathfieldsaye’s 169 with 3-170 led by an unbeaten 101 from Trollope.

Having not had a player score a century since the 2013-14 season, Square have now had three in the past two weeks following Ben Gunn and Zane Keighran’s tons seven days earlier.

But showing just what a fickle game cricket is, after combining for 215 runs last week, this time Gunn (6) and Keighran (0) were both dismissed cheaply.

Trollope and Kyle Chant (45 n.o.) set a new fourth wicket partnership record for Golden Square with their unbroken stand of 153 after Square had been under pressure early at 3-20.

Captain Ben Devanny (2-19) was the best of the Jets’ bowlers and was also the side’s top scorer with 73 after Strathfieldsaye had been sent in.

Devanny took his season tally of runs to 400 before he was run out by Keighran.

Darren Clutton made an impact for Square in his first game back since round one with an involvement in five dismissals.

The left-arm paceman took 4-33 with the ball, while also running out Kristian Rogers (0).

In his 250^th match for the Jets – the first Strathfieldsaye player to reach the milestone – Greg Lyon scored 12.

Lyon’s opening partner, Zoltan Smyth, was forced to retire hurt on five after copping a painful blow from Saheed Akolade (0-30).

• Linton Jacobs played one of the leading roles for Strathdale-Maristians in his 200^th match for the Suns.

Jacobs celebrated the milestone with an eight-wicket victory over Huntly-North Epsom at Bell Oval in which he scored an unbeaten 65 n.o.

After bowling the Power out for 146, opener Jacobs batted through the Suns’ innings as they answered with 2-149 off 34 overs to ensure they maintained top spot at the mid-season break.

Earlier, Jacob DeAraugo and Cameron Taylor combined for seven wickets as the Suns again dismissed the Power for less than 150 for the second game in  row.

DeAraugo claimed 4-33 off 7.2 overs, while leg-spinner Taylor’s fine season with the ball continued with another three wickets.

Taylor picked up 3-15 off eight tight overs and sits at the top of the BDCA bowling at the mid-season break with 24 wickets.

The Power lost wickets regularly throughout their innings, including their last four for 22 runs.

Skipper Elliott Massina (32) and Peter Moore (31 n.o.) were the only Power batsmen to get past 20.

…………………………………

• BDCA ladder

Strathdale – 34

Golden Square – 33

Bendigo – 30

Sandhurst – 27

Eaglehawk – 21

Kangaroo Flat – 18

White Hills – 15

Huntly-North Epsom – 12

Strathfieldsaye – 12

Bendigo United – 6

…………………………………

• Round eight games

Saturday, January 6

Bendigo v Golden Square (QEO)

Kangaroo Flat v White Hills

Bendigo United v Strathdale

Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk

Sandhurst v Huntly-North Epsom