Captain Max Diffey the difference in CAW Country's under 15 win

Diffey rescued his team after it fell to 2-9, chasing the visitors’ total of 134.

“Max bunkered down and built an innings,” coach Nigel Semmens said.

“The first two-thirds of that innings was very well controlled and he paced himself.

“Then when we needed him to put his foot on the accelerator a bit he started playing some shots and pushed the field back and made some gaps.”

The opener finished unbeaten on 74, while number four Jarli Blackmore chipped in with 36.

It was hard work for Wangaratta’s attack, although Josh McCabe was miserly in claiming 1-15 from eight overs.

Earlier on, Wangaratta Blue’s Waitai Tua scored an unbeaten 37, while number three batsman Joel Smith (23) and opener Tom Rosser (20) also contributed.

Paceman Max Byrne claimed 2-28, while Jake Cooper nabbed 1-21 from eight overs.

“Jake bowled really well, he bowled good length outside off-stump,” Semmens said.

The class of left-hand bat Diffey proved the difference as the teams were both on 2-60 at the halfway mark of their respective innings.

It was Diffey’s ability to find another level, when required, which sealed CAW’s win.

However, the Blue team was terrific itself.

“They’re very strong, I think they said that team had won (the competition) the last couple of years,” Semmens said.

CAW Country posted early wins over Wangaratta Gold and CAW Hume.

Byrne was the star of the first day and indeed produced one of the finest efforts of the carnival, at any level.

Byrne scored an unbeaten 112 in his team’s total of 9-203 against Wangaratta.

He came to the crease at 3-28 and proceeded to dominate the attack, as CAW finished with more than five runs per over.

It’s extremely rare for a player to score a ton at Country Week, so it will be interesting to watch the youngster’s development.

It was closer in the second game though with CAW Country toppling CAW Hume by 23 runs.

Country scored 8-145 from its 40 overs with Hume restricted to 8-123 in its chase for victory.

Diffey was again the difference, top-scoring with 42 from 79 balls with four boundaries.

With Hume on 5-90, the right-armer then stepped up as the 10^th bowler used, snaring a vital 3-20 from six overs.