The home team posted an imposing 6-242 from its 50 overs with Craig (94) and Garvey (74) sharing a 136-run stand for the fourth wicket.

“Jack’s starting to realise that the game of cricket goes a bit longer than he thinks, that he’s probably not running out of as much time as he thinks he is,” team-mate Leo McGhee said.

“He’s pacing his innings quite well, he’s not getting a rush of blood too early and trying to thrash from the get-go.”

Last season’s captain went into round seven second on the run-scorers behind team-mate Tom Johnson, who underwent surgery during the week to have a plate and six screws removed from his ankle following a dislocation and break while playing football around 18 months ago.

Craig showed his patience, facing 140 deliveries, although he still struck 10 boundaries.

He’s now posted 73 not against Belvoir, 79 against Albury and an unbeaten 67 against North Albury to complement the highest score of his eight-year provincial career, passing the 91 he made against East Albury in December, 2016.

Garvey’s aggressive 74 was from just 79 balls, with a boundary and two sixes.

The left-hander had opened for a number of years, but has slotted back into the middle order.

“We thought BJ’s a really good manipulator of the ball in those middle overs where there’s plenty of gaps and those ones and twos feed into BJ’S batting style,” McGhee said.

Kori Stevenson claimed 3-35, while the reliable Kieran Cowan picked up another two scalps.

St Pat’s built their innings around number four Luke Restall, who finished unbeaten on 75 from 110 deliveries.

He posted half-century stands with Eddie Keogh (17), Mitch O’Brien (32) and Neil Smith (32), but the visitors never looked like challenging the total.

The Patties fell a spot to fourth with their only losses against the top two, taking in the round one loss to premiers Lavington.

St Pat’s now face the other teams in the top five – Tallangatta and North Albury – but the fact they were able to push past 200 runs will have them quietly confident they have the firepower to claim a big scalp.

Wodonga faces the resurgent New City.