GAVIN Bowles' passion for being out in the middle and scoring runs still remains as strong as it was when he made his BDCA first XI debut for White Hills 20 years ago.

"Being out in the middle and scoring runs is what I love the most... that's my job for the team," Bowles said this week.

"I've never been a big hitter, I've just tried to play to my natural game and found that has worked well."

Indeed it has as more than 6000 runs and 12 centuries will attest.

And at the age of 36 Bowles is showing no signs of slowing down given the classy left-hander's form over his past three hits - 55, 100 and 70.

Bowles will carry that strong form into his 200^th first XI game for the Demons when they play at Golden Square on Saturday.

His path to the 200 milestone began in round eight of the 1999-2000 season when, as a 16-year-old, Bowles was selected for his debut against a Bendigo United side that would go on to win that season's flag.

The Demons, captained by Jock Schofield, were beaten by 26 runs, with the young Bowles scoring three not out late in the innings.

"I remember facing Nic Balic and only being 16 at the time, it wasn't much fun," Bowles said.

Having got his initial taste of first XI in 1999-2000, Bowles became a permanent fixture in the Demons side the following season and has been since, apart from one season off in 2006-07 to focus on Bendigo Bombers' pre-season, plus a stint in England during 2013-14.

Bowles' name is synonymous with White Hills given not only his strong ties to the cricket club, but also the football club.

"It's a second home out here (at Scott Street); I'm out here three or four times a week with training and playing on the weekend and I just love the place," Bowles said.

"I love the people at the club; if you enjoy the people you're playing with and are around all the time then you're going to enjoy your sport and that's what I'm big on... enjoyment."

Although the Demons' environment has provided Bowles with the enjoyment he seeks from the game, he's still craving that elusive first XI premiership.

While he has been part of Twenty20 and one-day premiership teams for the Demons in recent years, in the season-proper Bowles' finals experience is limited to just one losing semi-final against Strathdale-Maristians in 2015-16.

"The way I've always looked at it is I want to be here and part of it when some success does come," Bowles said.

"It may not happen in my time while I'm still playing, but I'd love to be part of this club when it plays in its next grand final or wins a flag, so that has always been the driving force throughout my time here."

The Demons won their last first XI flag in 1992-93, but approaching the mid-season break are giving themselves a platform to launch from, having won their past three games to be sitting in third position.

"We've got players getting to that age now where they're starting to realise that they belong at the level and there's a really good feeling around the club," Bowles said.

"It's obviously good when you're winning because we've been through a lot of tough times when we've been on the end of some big losses and lean years.

"But we've stuck at it... you can't just throw in the towel, you've always got to try to better yourself and the team."

A popular player at not just White Hills, but all around the BDCA who is renowned for his engaging nature and always having a smile on his face, Bowles sits fourth on the list of most centuries scored in the BDCA since 2000 and was last month picked at No.4 in the Addy's Team of the Decade for the 2010s.

His 12 tons through the post-2000 timeframe are surpassed by only Heath Behrens (27), Tony Taig (19) and Ben Gunn (15).

And through that period only Behrens (10,334) and Scott Johnson (7128) have made more than his 6493 runs.

That figure of 6493 has also just surpassed Greg O'Brien's previous White Hills' record of 6461, now making Bowles the greatest run-scorer in Demons' history.

Although, he still needs two more tons to equal O'Brien's White Hills' record of 14 centuries.

Bowles has also been handy with the ball over his journey, capturing 57 wickets with his spinners - his most memorable wicket being that of Heath Behrens, the holder of all the BDCA's batting records.

"I managed to get Puggo out one day... caught on the boundary," Bowles chuckled.

"It was going for six, but Moners (Aaron Monro) managed to stay inside the line and pluck a catch.

"I think he must have mis-hit it and it came off the toe of his bat because he put me on the roof the same day."

As for a most memorable game he has played in, while Bowles would dearly like to reflect on a winning final, it's a one-day game against Bendigo that comes to mind.

"I remember playing a one-dayer against Bendigo the week after Ron Salter passed away," Bowles said.

"Ron was a legend around the club and we were playing for a lot that week and really wanted to have a win for him.

"We got bowled out fairly cheap and ended up defending it... we just willed our way to a win and taking that last wicket was amazing and probably a bit like winning a final.

"I remember that night we all went back out into the middle to the pitch and looked up at the heavens thinking about Salts, so that's a really special memory on a day that meant a lot to the club."

While Saturday provides White Hills with the chance to celebrate Bowles' career, for Bowles it's an opportunity to pay tribute to the strong support he has received off the field from his family, starting with wife Lauren and daughter Maya.

"My family have been an incredible support over my cricketing journey. In particular my wife Lauren, Maya, mum and dad (Rhonda and Ian), aunty (Jen Harvey) and nan (Gwen Harvey)," Bowles said.

"They have been there to watch and support me almost every weekend without fail and I can't thank them enough.

"My brothers Rohan, Dean and Shaun have also been a great support along the way as well.

"There's a lot of sacrifices that come with playing cricket and I've always been really appreciative of the support I've had."

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.