Continuing on the carnival’s traditional short-format game, made up of players from across most of the 18 sides, the clash was given extra spice with the addition of the bush vs beach rivalry giving the healthy crowd a stake in the clash beyond supporting their teammates.  

It was certainly a factor for triumphant City skipper James Lennox, fresh off his century earlier on Wednesday, who said it was great to go one-up on the country rivals. 

“Yeah it was good,” he said grinning from ear to ear – an expression shared by everyone at the ground. 

“I know some kids in that [Country] side, and also it was a great game.” 

Country batted first and despite a slow start posted 132 off the back of Noah Harper (27), Nic Nicastri (32 retired) and Fletcher Hyde (27) hitting runs late in the piece. 

Hyde hit his 27 off just 18 deliveries, with only two dot balls in his stay at the crease to go with four fours and 11 singles before being bowled with the innings’ final ball, while Nicastri hit 16 off his last 14 deliveries faced. 

City chased down the total with comparative ease, making their way to 1-108 chasing 132. 

Country went down fighting, taking 4-20 in the final few overs before City reached the total – with leggie Harry Roscarel doing the damage with 3-3 from two overs – but it was too little too late for the bush side as City hit a five-wicket win. 

City’s Liam Newman won man-of-the-match after his 33 off 19 deliveries – featuring four fours and two sixes – before retiring, while Jordan Segal (26) and captain Lennox (20) worked with Newman to set up the run chase before the collapse, were Roscarel bowled Segal and Aadesh Ramraj, and had Jack Bensemann tapped LBW.

Ramraj played some wonderful straight drives on his way to 13 before Xavier Nath hit a four to see City over the line.  

Lennox was “very happy” to have taken out the crown.

“I feel like we batted really well and fielded really well and that’s how you win games,” he said, 

“Great experience, definitely different to playing red ball cricket at 8.00 in the morning in the bright sun but it was a great experience.”

Lennox said while he and most of his teammates were all knackered after three full days of cricket, they were loving every minute of it. 

“We just love cricket,” he said, adding the side had gelled together in the blink of an eye. 

“I think we really clicked, having a couple of players playing together we just clicked straight away and had nicknames for each other.”

The carnival’s final day is on Thursday.