Wests have claimed their second Newcastle District Cricket Association premiership in the space of four seasons after defeating Belmont by one wicket in a thrilling first-grade final.
James King produced a captain's knock, unbeaten on 68 and hitting the winning runs, to guide his team past Belmont's 107 after being nine down for over an hour at Harker Oval on Saturday.
Wests celebrate the #NDCA2021 premiership @newcastleheraldpic.twitter.com/DQ8qo4OAQZ
— Josh Callinan (@joshuacallinan) April 3, 2021
He and No.11 Stew Morgan (1 not out, 37 balls) combined for a last stand of 35 runs after the top-ranked side collapsed in the first session on day two.
The Rosellas resumed at 3-17 after virtually reversing their batting order late on Friday, but Belmont struck early taking 4-7 including the prized scalp of NDCA player of the year Joseph Price.
Josh Emerton helped steady the ship at 7-24 but was the eighth man out just shy of the halfway mark and No.10 Jeremy Nunan followed soon after, run out to make it 9-73.
King basically did the rest with his own bat and despite a nervous wait over lunch, Wests needing seven more and Belmont just one chance, picked up where he left off and got the job done on home soil.
He was the only Rosellas batsman to reach double figures and received the Ken Clifford Medal as player of the final.
Dan Bailey and Jace Lawson spearheaded Belmont's attack, finishing with figures of 4-45 and 3-23 respectively. Ray Cooper (1-37) also chipped in.
There were 57.2 overs still available when stumps were pulled early in the second session.
Wests broke a title drought when they lifted the trophy in 2017-18.
