Bowral United captain Nathan Cameron belted a determined century on Saturday to set up a stunning grand final victory over Soldiers in the Highlands-Goulburn first grade cricket competition.
The summer's leading runscorer, Cameron saved the best for last in smashing 175 in a team total of just 262 to almost singlehandedly lay the foundations for an 84-run first-innings win at Bradman Oval.
In a knock that included 20 fours and two sixes - and lifted his season tally to an astonishing 1074 runs - Cameron batted superbly with the tail-order to lift United from 6-128 to its eventual total.
The bottom four's combined contribution was just 15 runs, with Aaron Fox making 11, Tim Neven out for a duck, Chris Keltie one and Paul Davidson unbeaten on three.
But the 57-run seventh-wicket stand between Cameron and wicketkeeper Fox was a crucial turning point in the game.
And Cameron was full of praise also for Scotsman Keltie and number 11 Davidson for their efforts with the willow.
"The support from the last two guys, in particular, was vital," he said.
Cameron also turned on the magic with the ball, snaring the important scalp of Justin Rowlings - arguably Soldiers' best batsman - for 50.
Left-arm quick Davidson bagged Soldiers' top scorer Graeme Lees (63) after he was earlier dropped at cover by Luke Reurich - who in the process broke a finger.
The star with the ball, though, was leg-spinner Dean Roxburgh.
He claimed 4-62 and in partnership with spin twin Keltie, the left-armer, knocked over the last four wickets for just 11 runs.
Roxburgh also held onto three catches, two at slip and one off his own bowling.
The eventual win signalled back-to-back titles for United, following the club's narrow eight-run victory over Wingello in last season's Highlands-only season finale.
It also meant Bowral became the first club in three seasons to be unbeaten all summer and go on to win the premiership, avoiding the heartbreak experienced by Wingello in 2002-03 and Moss Vale in 2001-02.
Not everything went to plan, however.
Cameron admitted his heart sank when he ran out Stuart McPherson - another heavy runscorer in 2003-04 - for 23.
"After that I had to take some responsibility," he said.
Cameron flicked a delivery off his pads and called a run only to realise too late that it had not pierced the field. A diving save at square leg cost McPherson his wicket.
Proud of his team's recovery and his own personal heroics, Cameron said United was confident of victory by stumps on Saturday with the score at that time 8-213.
He was unbeaten on 133 at that stage and he did not disappoint the Bowral faithful when play resumed yesterday, continuing to farm the strike and adding further to his run feast.
A big century in a grand final success signalled in no uncertain terms Cameron's triumphant return to Highlands cricket following a year away from the sport altogether - working at a ski resort in America - and three seasons playing in Sydney.
It was the Southern Zone batsman's fifth ton this summer - lifting his Bradmanesque average to 107.4 - and it could not have come at a better time for his team.
"I've enjoyed myself and so have all the guys," he said.
"We have a young team - Tim Neven is the oldest at 32 - and hopefully we can retain the players and continue on the good form and the good team spirit."
Soldiers, who had placed fourth in the regular season before beating Wingello and Workers to earn a place in the grand final, appeared to be in with a chance at 5-146. But then the tail collapsed.
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