WESTERN COLTS were under immense pressure to pick up a bonus point victory to keep their NSW Country Cricket Colts Championship title hopes alive and thanks to some ballistic knocks from Cowra's Mac Webster they got maximum points - but came up just short of the crown.
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Webster (63 from 48) and Atlee (44 from 24) hit 16 boundaries between them to help Western chase down the total of 193 at George Park 1 in Bathurst on Thursday, set by the previously-unbeaten North Coastal outfit.
The win saw Western finish within 0.3 net run rate of competition leaders ACT Southern Districts.
The toss had been going against Western skipper Tom Coady all week and the cricket gods continued to have their fun on Thursday as the hosts lost their fourth toss in five games.
North Coastal took the opportunity to bat first and got on an early roll courtesy of their openers Coby Tabor (41) and Jack Wakely (14), who put on 64 together.
George Cumming continued his excellent campaign as he removed Tabor and Troy Turner (9) in quick succession, then broke a 50-run partnership with the wicket of Lachlan Dowling (33).
Angus Parsons kept North Coastal shy of the 200 mark as he claimed a two wickets in the 49th over to also finish with three dismissals.
Webster (1-19 from seven) and Patrick Nelson (1-21 from seven) enjoyed very economical days with the ball.
Just as he did the previous day against Riverina, Western, Cowra's Micky McNamara (13) blasted three quick boundaries before departing.
Tom Coady (27) was just beginning to build momentum when a great delivery from spinner Lachlan Carlyle hit his off stump and ended a half century stand between himself and Harry Bayliss.
Bayliss (19) was then castled himself in the following over by Cooper Petterson and Koda Sissian (0) quickly departed as well to have Western 4-71.
After the drinks break Atlee blasted Central Northern around the park to take back momentum - only coming undone when he was stumped trying to hit his fifth six.
But Webster went on with the job in a big way as he continued to find the boundary, helping his team chase down the target in the space of 28 overs.
McNamara finished the carnival with 52 runs at an average of 17.3 with a highest score of 20. He also took two catches and had one stumping.
His best performance with the bat came in Western's match against Greater Illawarra when he blasted 20 not out from 13 deliveries batting in the middle order.
Webster finished the tournament with 99 runs for an average of 33 and highest score of 63.
The Cowra allrounder sent down 25 overs for carnival figures of 5-95 with an average of 19, a strike rate of 30 and economy rate of 3.8 for best bowling figures of 2-41 in Western's win against Riverina.
PULLEN STARS FOR UNDER 15s
Playing for the Orange District Cricket Associaton side in the Under 15s Western NSW Carnival Cowra's Cooper Pullen finished the carnival with an average of 56 after amassing 168 runs at the top of the batting order.
Called on to send down 11 overs during the four matches of the carnival Pullen took 2-26 with best bowling figures of 1-3 at an average of 13, with a strike rate of 33 and economy rate of 2.4.
In Orange's opening match against Penrith Pullenb opened the batting and made 26 from 80 deliveries in the side's total of 77 off 49.3 overs. In reply Penrith made 110 from 38.1 overs, Pullen sending down three overs finishing with 1-3.
Against North Shore in Orange's second match he finished with bowling figures of 0-3 and carried his bat, 15 not out, batting at first drop as Orange recorded an easy win.
Against carnival heavyweights Parramatta in their third game, again batting at number three he made 66 in Orange's total of 6/151 off 50 overs before Paramatta made 6/155 in reply off 47 overs.
With the ball in hand Pullen sent down three overs and took 1-12.
In the carnival's final match, against central west side Dubbo, Pullen top scored with 61 from 91 balls, again batting at first drop in Orange's total of 9/207 from 50 overs.
In reply Dubbo was all out for 99 from 38 overs, Pullen finishing with bowling figures of 0-4 from two overs.