Here comes Lavington!

The Panthers hold a nine-point break in second after sitting third at the halfway mark with a six-three record.

The grand finalists are unbeaten since, although they shared the points with Belvoir following their controversial draw due to poor air quality.

The team's depth was highlighted by a match-winning 61-run ninth wicket stand between Nathan Brown (67 not out) and Michael Galvin (five).

HIGH FIVE

Albury is another on a winning run, racking up five straight.

The club is on the verge of snapping its 12-year finals drought after stunning premiers North Albury.

North posted 168 with Ross Dixon (48), Kade Brown (47) and opener Innocent Kaia (41) seeing the home team to victory with 5.2 overs to spare.

Fourth-placed Albury now has a game break on North and Tallangatta with three rounds left.

Albury meets finals contenders Lavington, Belvoir and Tallangatta.

LOSING RUN

St Patrick's, meantime, haven't had a win in 2020.

The Patties have won only one game since toppling Tallangatta in round three, defeating cellar-dwellers New City on December 7.

Once a perennial finalist, the club will miss finals for the third time in four years.

However, there's a positive.

"Ninety-five per cent of our under 16s have committed to play senior cricket next year, how good is that?," president Tony Maher said.

"The drop-off rate is generally 60 to 70 per cent, but what we've built with these kids brings great enjoyment."

ACTION JACKSON

Wodonga veteran Bob Jackson told The Border Mail last month he wanted to play until he was 50.

The way he's going at the moment, he's selling himself short.

The 44-year-old leads the association's run-scorers with 540 at 67.5.

In his last seven innings, including the T20 grand final loss to North, Jackson has nearly 400 runs at 94.

If he maintains top spot, it will be the first time the best batsman of the last decade has topped the list since 2013-14 when he smashed the season record with 1032.

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WHITE NOISE

Former representative paceman Cameron White is on target for his best output in three years.

White sits fourth with 29 scalps at 14.55, claiming 10-56 in the last three games, including 4-34 against St Patrick's last Saturday.

The right-arm swing bowler hasn't finished in the top 20 the past two years after finishing second in 2016-17 (40 at 13.45).

White's resurgence is a major factor in the Crows' charge into third after missing finals.

East hosts New City on Saturday.

SO CLOSE

Wodonga's Mitch Dinneen almost snared a screamer to snatch a thrilling win at representative level on Sunday.

The opening batsman joined St Patrick's Angus Kilby and Yarrawonga duo Matt Casey and Will Sharp in the Victorian Country under 21 team against Metropolitan at Ballarat.

Country was bowled out for 135 with Metro 9-132 in the final over.

Dinneen just couldn't reel in the 'speccie' with the boundary sealing victory.

The quartet was part of the North East Knights' country championship outfit.