Completing their undefeated campaign, Inner West Harbour claimed the Western NSW Under-13 Carnival title at Wade Park on Thursday and, in the process, thwarted Dubbo's hopes of becoming the first Western Zone based side to triumph in 15 seasons.
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Mitchell Cricket Council were the last Western Zone-based outfit to claim the title, in 2005, and after three consecutive preliminary wins Dubbo looked a genuine shout to break that drought against their Sydney-based rivals.
But as they had all week, Inner West Harbour simply proved too clinical, piling on 5-212 after being sent in at Orange's home of cricket and then bowling the Macquarie Valley giants out for 180 in reply.
Dubbo's decision to send their Sydney rivals in looked a potential masterstroke when Ayden Hunt (2-35) snicked off Nicholas Champion (9) with the score at just 19, but Inner West Harbour took control of the decider after that.
Will Allen (72) and Tom Bermingham (64) combined in an excellent, 119-run second-wicket stand to rocket their side to the box seat, both continuing their strong carnivals with their foundation-laying digs.
Allen's half-ton was his second of the carnival after a strong dig of 88 against Penrith in round two while Bermingham's knock backed up his outstanding knock of 122 against Parramatta the day before.
Inner West Harbour did lose a couple quickly to sit at 4-170 but Julian Rutkis (28 not out) and Matthew Plunkett (20) made sure their side posted a score in excess of 200 with handy contributions at the end.
Dubbo's chase didn't start well as Nick Bayliss (1) fell early but Hunt (61) and Cooper Giddings (33) resurrected the chase with a timely 75-run, second-wicket stand.
Giddings' dismissal sparked a collapse though with Max Richardson and Hunt both falling reasonably quickly as Dubbo fell to 4-105, and then 5-121 after Kyan Green (3) was sent on his way by Allen (2-18).
Max Bourke (30) did what he could to try and spark the chase again but Inner West Harbour stayed disciplined with the ball and Dubbo fell 33 runs short of victory.
In the third-place play-off the Sydney Invitational XI (8-238) defeated Blacktown Gold.
In Thursday's other day four games North Shore (9-196) knocked off Mitchell (147), South Coast (3-149) defeated Parramatta 1 (94), Penrith (6-206) took down Bankstown (187),
Orange finished the carnival on a high with their first win, skittling North West Sydney for 90 and then successfully chasing with three wickets in hand.
The result of Orange Barbarians' final-round game against Blacktown Black wasn't available at time of publication however the latter side did post 8-237 batting first.
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