However, Maitland’s senior side was forced to concede defeat without getting to fire a shot with the bat when the storm system forced play to be abandoned in the John Bull Shield final against Cessnock at Branxton’s Miller Park.

Cessnock, who posted 9-232 in their innings, regain the title they last won in 2014-15 courtesy of topping the table going through the preliminary rounds undfeated.

At Lorn Park, King finished with the stellar figures of 6-11 from his 10 overs to earn man of the match and help Maitland Colts dismiss Singleton for 74.

The Windsor Castle paceman has been in great form in the representative and A-grade competitions this season and led his teammates off the field at the end of Cessnock’s innings.

City United’s Tim Burton, who opened the bowling with King, finished with 2/32 from his six overs.

His City teammate Josh Adams picked up the final wicket to end with 1-30 and Wests paceman Riley Harrison’s sole over was a wicket-maiden. 

Jake Mackaway top scored for Singleton with 22.

Singleton made things difficult for the Maitland openers bowling a tight line and giving them few chances to score.

Blake Chandler was uncharacteristically scratchy at the crease and was caught square of the wicket when he tried to punish a wide delivery openly to spoon the ball into the air.

Skipper Karl Bowd was also forced to play largely defensively but he and No.3 Brendon Crouch managed to keep rotating the strike with quick singles before settling into their rhythm and punishing any loose deliveries.

Crouch top scored with 32 and Bowd made 23, before Jamie Krake and Jono Gabriel saw Maitland home in the 21^st over and 10 minutes before the storm hit the ground.

In the John Bull Shield final, Cessnock made 9-232 from their 50 overs and the match was abandoned when heavy rain and lightning struck before Maitland could mount a reply.

Northern Suburbs paceman Lincoln Mills was the pick of Maitland’s bowlers finishing with 4-34 from his 10 overs. Elliot Thompson chimed in with three wickets.