Played at Wade Park on Friday night, Webster blasted 44 off 45 balls to anchor the students' 20 overs, batting for virtually the entirety of the Kinross innings to help the navy blues to 6-116.

In reply, it was Larkin, in his first game of the season for Kinross, who helped seal the victory.

After showing his class, albeit fleetingly with the bat thanks to a 14 off 6 cameo that included three boundaries, Larkin claimed 4-5 off his four overs, including a maiden, to rip the Lightning apart and ensure Kinross remains in the hunt for a place in the finals of the Orange District Cricket Association's Twenty20 competition.

Larkin staked his claim as one of the best T20 bats in the region last year, his first in Orange after moving west, with a 49-ball knock of 71 in last year's Plan B Regional Bash qualifier against Orana at Wade Park.

His class extends back to his time in Sydney, too, inspiring Sydney Uni's NSW Premier Cricket Second Grade title with a stunning, unbeaten grand final ton in 2018-19, but few knew his bowling could be equally as damaging.

He took the wickets of Lithgow skipper Ben Sheehan (10 off 19), Joel Gurney (12 off 16), Josh Kitchner (8 off 18) and Kobe Hunter (4 off 6) to finish with remarkable figures and get Kinross home by just four runs.

Lightning tail-enders Aron Crowder (12no off 6) and Will Hutchinson (3no off 2) threatened to steal victory for the visiting Lithgow boys in the final over, but the wag came too little too late.

Webster also proved his all-round ability in the win, taking 3-26 from his four overs with the ball.

Having lost to CYMS in their opener a fortnight ago, Kinross had to beat Lithgow to give themselves a shot at making the finals.

The students sit in second place in Pool C following that round two victory.

Lithgow's clash with CYMS is on December 18.

The next Royal Hotel Cup game at Wade Park pits Cavaliers up against the big-hitting Aubin brothers from Centennials Bulls on Friday night. It'll be Cavs' first T20 game of the summer.