The Roos looked set to suffer another defeat when they crashed to 2-4 and then 3-22 in reply to White Hills' total of 7-125.

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All-rounder Brent Hamblin and skipper Chris Barber came to the Roos' rescue.

They added 83 off 66 balls for the third wicket to regain control of the match.

Barber fell one run short of his half-century, making 49 off 42 balls.

Hamblin maintained the momentum and finished 53 not out off 45 balls as the Roos won with six wickets and four balls to spare.

Demons' off-spinner Jack Bourke did all the damage early claiming 3-12 off four overs, including the wicket of the Roos' new marquee player Cam Williams for one.

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Earlier in the night, it was Hamblin who put a major hole in White Hills' chances when he bowled marquee player Brayden Stepien for a second ball duck.

Stepien chopped the ball onto his stumps - much to the delight of Hamblin and the Roos.

Ollie Geary (42 off 38 balls) and Mitch Winter-Irving (30 off 27 balls) started a rescue mission for the Demons after they had been 2-10.

White Hills needed one of the two to bat deep in the innings.

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In the final three overs of their innings the Demons, when they should have been lifting the run rate, lost 3-15. It was a crucial three-over block in the context of the match.

Hamblin bowled well at both ends of the innings and finished with 2-13 off his four overs.

Adam Burns (2-30) was the only other multiple wicket-taker.

The two teams play against each other again in Saturday's one-day competition.

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