The association’s best batsman Sahib Malhotra was forced to use a runner after he was injured bowling and Parnell raced in from the midwicket boundary and hurled the ball back to keeper Angus Kilby to leave the runner posted.

“His run out obviously turned the game for us, he looked like taking the game away from us,” St Pat’s captain Matt Crawshaw said.

Chasing the Patties’ 8-211, the visitors were looking dangerous at 3-129 when the Indian star was run out.

Crawshaw believes the rare sight of a runner contributed to the confusion.

“Yeah, absolutely, I had no idea what was going on with the three blokes,” he said.

Bushies’ captain-coach Matt Armstrong (10) fell on the same score and given they were missing boom batsman Nathan Thompson, it was always going to be a difficult target as the visitors finished on 9-194.

“We always thought we were in with a sniff, we got Sahib and Matty in the space of a few overs and we were pretty confident after that,” Crawshaw said.

The Patties had a host of contributors, including Mitch O’Brien (47), Luke Restall (41), Angus Kilby (40) and Crawshaw (34).

“We lost our way a little bit, kept hitting it to the fielders and struggled for a patch of 10-15 overs when they bowled really well,” the skipper said.

“It would be ideal if one of those guys made it to 70 or 80 or even make 100, but I suppose four blokes getting around the 40s, you can’t really complain, everyone is playing their role and we finished off really well with Angus Kilby hitting a run-a-ball 40.”

The keeper struck three boundaries and a six from his 38 deliveries, putting on the highest partnership of 65 for the fifth wicket with O’Brien.

Opening bowlers Ryan Bartel and Sam Stephens claimed 3-44 and 3-52 respectively.

Malhotra combined in handy stands of 43 runs for the third wicket with Phil Neville (31 from 69 balls) and 41 for the fourth with Armstrong, but the Bushies lack some batting firepower.

The Bushies haven’t won a game now since round five against the battling Wodonga Raiders.

They had a draw against Wodonga due to wet weather and fell to North Albury prior to the most recent result.

The Patties’ flying start (six-two) should guarantee they play finals.