Lavington stormed into the top six for the first time this season with a riveting one-run win over a gallant St Patrick's on Saturday.
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Kori Stevenson was caught a metre short of his ground in trying to tie the match in front of the Patties' 10-year grand final reunion.
"It was an awesome finish," delighted Lavington captain Michael Galvin said.
"I think it was one of the best games I've played in with our position on the ladder and how desperate we are to win every game."
The thrilling finale was fitting of a crackerjack contest, where the momentum swung on a number of occasions.
"You get that extra run somewhere (for the tie) and you think, 'we probably played the perfect game of cricket'," Patties' captain Dean Nicholson offered.
Lavington won the toss and made 7-229 at the Patties' Xavier Oval.
Opener Daryl Tuffey top-scored, taking advantage of some short bowling to strike 10 boundaries in his 64.
"Our plan was not to be short and allow him to get his hands at it, we wanted to be hip height, but when you're trying to do that the margin for error is so small, so he got away from us a little bit there," Nicholson said.
Tuffey was dropped early when he launched a fierce square cut, which rocketed through Matt Crawshaw.
He was also dropped on the boundary, which was a much easier catch.
Tuffey received strong support from Matt Tom (41), Sam Harris (39) and fellow opener Matt Sharp (31) as off-spinner Nicholson continued his fine season by snaring 3-31 off 10 overs.
In the previous two games, the Patties had posted 5-232 (North Albury) and 7-222 (Corowa).
"The chat was if everyone chips in then that 230 (target) becomes more realistic," Nicholson said.
Neil Smith (12) tugged a waist high full toss to Tom at square leg, with the league's second leading run-scorer looking for a height no-ball.
Opener Crawshaw (64) and Mitch O'Brien (51) compiled 96 for the second wicket as St Pat's batting mirrored the Panthers' contributions.
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It came down to 11 needed from the last over from Chris Galvin and when Eddie Keogh hammered the first ball over the deep mid-wicket fielder for four, the Patties gained the initiative with three wickets left.
But Galvin conceded five straight singles with Tom's fine work on the mid-wicket boundary preventing Stevenson (44 off 36 balls) getting back as the Patties were stranded on 8-228.