The Old Boys continued their strong run in the Royal Hotel Cup after Ben Mitchell and skipper Adam Ryan guided them to a huge total of 5-181 from their 20 overs. 

Mitchell hit seven fours and two sixes on his way to 51, while Ryan hit four fours and the one six to reach 41. 

The pair put on 53 for the second wicket after Nic Broes was dismissed for a quickfire 20, and gave St Pats the perfect platform to launch in the second half of their innings, which featured a 21-run cameo from Singh who hit two fours and a six in the dying stages. 

Singh and Qureshi then turned it on with the ball, with the latter taking a phenomenal 4-9 from just 13 deliveries bowled, helping clean up the last five wickets for just seven runs as the tail gave way. 

It built on Singh’s earlier haul of 3-22 from his four overs at the top of the innings, dismissing danger man Ben Sheehan for 13 bowled and ensuring the Lightning never got started. 

They lost consistent wickets throughout the innings, with a 40-run stand between Nick Miller and Sam Johnston the best for the innings by some margin as quick bowler rotations kept the Lithgow side guessing. 

Singh and Nic Broes – who picked up a very tidy 2-14 from four overs – were the only ones skipper Ryan bowled out, with two overs the maximum for most bowlers.

The win puts St Pats firmly on top of Pool A by extending their unbeaten run in their three games with one game against Orange City to come.

Lithgow now move into elimination mode, needing to win their next two games and hoping St Pats defeat Orange City in order to make finals.