MITCHELL were unable to end their Western NSW Under-13 Carnival on a winning note while West Harbour completed their undefeated campaign with a win in Thursday's final over Dubbo.
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The Mitchell boys had got their tournament off to a winning start but they were unable to go on with it, losing their last game against North Shore by 49 runs.
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.
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 stand for the second wicket.
Max Bourke (30) did what he could to try and spark the chase later in the innings but Inner West Harbour stayed disciplined with the ball and Dubbo fell 33 runs short of victory.
