Left arm spinner Matt Saul, opening bowler Jacob Harvey and wicket keeper batsman Andrew Page all excelled at the carnival to gain selection along with Orange’s Angus Polhill.

The team will play NSW Country Northern at Bowral on November 14 with a team from that match selected to play for NSW Country against NSW City on the Sunday and Monday of November 15 and 16.

“All three young boys performed well for Western Zone throughout the three days and all deserved their positions in the Southern Country team,” Western Zone manager Graeme Dyball said.

“Of the four selected from Western Zone, Matt Saul was probably the one who came mostly out of the blue. He took seven wickets during the last two days to earn himself a spot.

“It was a poor batting performance on the first day,” Dyball said.

“We played some rash shots to be 5 for 19 at one stage and in the end it cost us with Riverina going on to win the title.

“But the next two days we fought back and played very well.”

While the first game was mostly forgettable for Western Zone, it was memorable for Andrew Page who made an instant impression on the Southern Country selectors.

While the team failed around him, Page top scored with 42 while Polhill made 23 not out and Nyngan’s Declan Hoare 22 in the team’s total of 158.

It was simply not enough to match Riverina’s score of 7 for 230 which saw Jacob Harvey take 2 for 44 and Polhill 1 for 22.

On day two Western came up against Southern Zone and this time built a solid total of 8 for 223.

Jason Date top scored for Western with 52, followed by Peter Guthrie (26) and Dubbo’s Jack Wells (25).

In reply Southern could manage only 174 with Saul starring with 4 for 33 and again Harvey doing damage with the new ball, taking 3 for 23. Hoare took 2 for 28.

In the final game Western produced a similar performance against Southern Zone, making 215 before rolling their opposition for 161.