In round 11 action, BLUCC travelled to Echuca South on Saturday, needing a big win to keep the top four — and finals — in sight.
Losing the toss and bowling first, Deeprose picked up five wickets in a row, conceding just 14 runs in his nine overs.
That spell restricted the home side to just 63 all out, off 27 overs.
In response, after a slow start BLUCC got into the chase, which culminated in veteran Greg Pearse and Deeprose at the crease with their side four wickets down.
Continuing his stunning game, Deeprose kept his composure and belted the winning runs.
‘‘I’m very happy with the result and with my figures on the day,’’ Deeprose said.
‘‘Having struggled with an injury (popped rib) before Christmas it was nice to bounce back and take a few like this.
‘‘I managed similar figures against them earlier in the year (6/15), so it’s good to have that form ready to go in these big matches coming up.’’
The win leaves BLUCC in fifth, just one win back from fourth-placed Echuca.
It means the final three rounds are crucial for the two or three sides scrambling to include themselves in the final four.
And it starts on Australia Day for Deeprose and his BLUCC teammates against Moama in a Twenty20.
‘‘These next ones are must-wins for us,’’ Deeprose said.
‘‘We have probed we can cut it with the best, so nothing is impossible.
‘‘This next game could swing the balance for us, we’re both relying on one of those top four slipping up, so a loss here could be season-ending. It’s a do-or-die situation.
‘‘A Twenty20 probably suits us a bit more, we have a good bowling attack and we hope to make the most of that. But in saying that we haven’t managed to beat Moama yet so we’ll have to do that this time.’’
Deeprose is fourth on the GMC ladder for wickets taken, with 22 in 11 matches. He is one wicket behind teammate Jeremy Felmingham, and four behind the competition leader, Echuca’s Matt Hinks.
— Fraser Walker-Pearce