That was the story for Dubbo’s Brewery Shield side on Sunday as it went down to Narromine in a semi-final thriller.

With a place in the grand final at Wellington next week on the line, Narromine came out flying and posted a mammoth 9/301 from its 50 overs.

Despite such an imposing total, Dubbo gave it a massive shake with a chanceless century from Angus Norton and 93 from Ben Wheeler gave the visitors a real shot.

But some fine death bowling from Bart Goodman helped Narromine get over the line.

There was some confusion post-game as the books had the match finishing in a tie but a recount confirmed the hosts had won by two runs.

Narromine would have advanced to the grand final if it was a tie, as they finished second on the ladder.

“It was a cracking game of cricket,” Dubbo captain Matt Ellis said.

“It was disappointing to be on the wrong side of the result but it was really down to Narromine winning the key moments.”

Dan Holland (83) and Kale Bock (80) starred in the Narromine innings while Greg Kerr hit a late 46 not out.

Holland was at his powerful best while Bock held things together and Kerr, Jakob Short (24) and Doug Potter (23) also contributed.

At a smaller ground and against an in-form lineup, Ellis was pleased with his bowling attack and said James Hughes was “outstanding”, taking 3/29 from 10 while fellow opener Bailey Edmunds finished with 2/59 from his 10 and Rhys Beauchamp claimed 2/52.

“It was a good batting wicket and they took advantage of that,” Ellis said of Narromine.

To be any chance, Dubbo’s chase needed to start well and Norton and Campbell Rose (27) made that happen.

Rose departed in the eighth over with the score at 59 and then Norton and Ben Wheeler combined in a terrific 100-run stand.

“Angus Norton set the tone for us early and he showed intent from the start,” Ellis said.

“It was the type of innings we needed and it always kept us in the game. He hit four sixes but he also rotated the strike well.

“Ben Wheeler batted with maturity and he and ‘Norto’ were looking good and we were 2/200 at one stage.”

That was in the 32^nd over, not long after Norton had departed for 101 and Wheeler seemed to join him in the hundred club before being run out.

Nick Karydis made 23 but wickets fell regularly from there as Narromine roared back into the game.

Goodman then did a job in the final overs, picking up a wicket on the final ball when most thought scores were level, and help secure a famous win for the hosts.

Potter was another standout with the ball, taking 1/41 from 10 overs through the middle stages.

Dubbo was without some players as the likes of Thomas Nelson, Brock Larance and Tom Atlee had been called up for the equally thrilling Western Zone Premier League grand final but Ellis said that was no excuse at all.

“To be honest, to get as close as we did, I don’t know what more we could have done,” Ellis said.

“Possibly we could have had an extra bit of spin bowling but everyone in that side did a job and applied themselves well.”

While obviously disappointed to lose, Ellis was adamant his young side would take a lot from the campaign.

Of the team which won last season’s Brewery Shield competition, only the captain and Nick Karydis remained on Sunday.

“There’s some good signs coming out and it’s a good group of young cricketers,” the skipper said.

“A lot of them are still in the very early stages of their cricketing lives so there’s a lot of promise and potential in the group and they would have learnt a lot this season.”