Cavaliers' Ben Mitchell steers Royal Hotel Cup victory over former St Pat's Old Boys teammates

Mitchell, playing as the marquee man for Cavaliers, dispatched his former teammates for 64 runs in the space of just 34 balls to help take the maroons to a six-wicket Royal Hotel Cup win at Wade Park.

It was a win that kept Cavaliers' finals hopes alive and all but ended the Saints' title defence, the latter side now has two losses from three games, which virtually spells the end unless other results fall their way now.

St Pat's posted a competitive total of 7-151 from their 20 overs but it wasn't enough of a buffer to stop a man who had spent years facing them in the nets.

When Mitchell was offered the chance to play for Cavaliers he jumped at it, knowing it would give him more match time before the McDonald's Country Cricket NSW Colts Championship in Bathurst this week.

"It was a bit of a different experience but I just played it for the extra game, with the colts carnival coming up, and there's a few Twenty20s in that," he said.

"I knew a couple of the Cavs boys, and the Pat's boys already had a marquee, so I thought why not get in there and have a crack against them.

"Bailey Ferguson messaged me asking if I wanted to play a game. I was going to be home for the weekend so I was happy to come and play."

And boy were Cavaliers happy that he did.

Mitchell chimed in with the ball as well, removing a dangerous Bailey Brien (31) before bowling Jeremy Russell with the final ball of the innings, although Adam Ryan was unstoppable for the Saints as he finished with an unbeaten 61 from 50 deliveries.

An early wicket gave St Pat's the perfect start with the ball but the wicket only brought Western Zone's most lethal batter at the moment, Matt Corben, out to the middle.

Cavaliers' skipper picked up 36 at a moderate click but he was there to play a supporting role while Mitchell lit up Wade Park with eight fours and a pair of sixes.

"I was seeing them alright but I was just lucky to be batting in the powerplay," Mitchell said.

"There was only two out of the ring so I was just going as hard as I could early on to set the chase up."

Mitchell and Corben put on 86 before the former's reign of terror ended with a catch to David Cant off Connor Slattery's bowling.

Wesley Lummis' 27 helped Cavs chase down the total with 17 balls to spare.

The innings was the ideal preparation for Mitchell, who has been finding his stride of over the past few weeks with Sydney University's third grade side.

He's determined to put in a strong showing for Western over the coming week when he makes his return to the Bathurst turf.

"I'm really looking forward to it. Getting to come back and play with the boys you've grown up with is going to be pretty good fun," he said.

"We've got a really strong Western side this year. I've played in Western for six years and been in four grand finals without winning it so hopefully this year we can go a step further."