Defending 191, Raiders had St Patrick’s 8-167, but Nick Brown hit the winning run from the second last ball off Jonathon Carson.

“He’s been our best player all year by quite a margin,” Patties’ captain Matt Crawshaw said.

“He’s won us a few games off his own bat.”

Frustratingly for Raiders, it’s their second thriller against St Pat’s.

In round five, the home side compiled 7-211, with Raiders finishing on 9-207.

“Two close ones, we were a little bit nervous and they’re a much improved side,” Crawshaw said.

Raiders have now lost 33 straight games, with their last win – against Belvoir – in February, 2015.

“While we’re happy that we’re going in the right direction, it’s now time to start getting wins on the board,” coach Steve Keene said.

Keene has been delighted with the team’s determination.

“The guys’ attitude towards training has been fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve got a good core of senior blokes who not only want to do well, but want to hang around after the game and things like that.

“The culture of the club has really shifted and now the results will start to come.”

Jesse Griffiths struck his third half-century, while Carson chipped in with 40, but Raiders finished 2.1 overs short of batting out their 50.

Keene says it was a lost opportunity.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said.

“We probably left a few runs out there.

“We put ourselves in a really strong position to win the game, so it’s disappointing not to get the result.”

St Pat’s opener Nick Flood top-scored with 45 and he’s been consistent in his three games, passing 35.

Kori Stevenson (32), Brown (31no) and Smith (30) provided stability in the top and middle order.

Smith has been a bogey player for Raiders.

He made 46 and took 3-17 in round five and followed that up with a match-defining 4-23 from seven overs.

Apart from those two games, he’s only bowled in one other match.

“He’s our wicketkeeper turned bowler,” Crawshaw said.

“We’ve needed him and we just need someone who can hit the wicket.

“He’s a right-arm seamer and hits the deck hard.”

The Patties have worked their way into fifth spot with a four-four record.

Given they’ve been without sidelined NSW Country paceman Jarryd Hatton for an extended period, the players deserve credit for the start.

There’s only six matches left, with the two one-dayers either side of Christmas, followed by the two-dayers and Patties’ hopes of a surprise return to finals will rest on the five games against fellow contenders, starting in Saturday’s home match against third-placed New City.