The 21-year-old scored a match-winning 40 for NSW Country in a two-wicket win against Queensland midway through the carnival in Mount Gambier before being taken for 1-47 off six overs in his final outing against Victoria on Monday. 

Stewart, a Northern Suburbs product who now plays with University in Newcastle, also made an unbeaten 21 against East Asia Pacific and finished with overall figures of 3-104 from 24 overs.

NSW Country recorded three wins and two losses for 17 competitions points and a share of fourth spot on the ladder, four behind hosts and first-time champions South Australia (21).

NSW wicketkeeper and Tamworth-based Central North ­skipper Tom Groth was named best gloveman of the carnival after taking 10 catches, including five in the one match.

Michael Arblaster and Scott Burkinshaw were the two players from NSW selected in the Australian Country XI.

Player of the tournament Ben Smith, who scored 232 runs at an average of 58 for South Australia, was named captain of the national merit team.

In the women’s division, contested for the first time, South Australia’s Brittany Perry received the top individual gong after making 223 runs at an average of 44.6.

East Asia Pacific claimed the title with Brisbane Heat player Norma Ovasuru picked as captain of the national merit team after hitting the winning runs in the final.

AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY

Ben Smith (SA, c), Michael Arblaster (NSW), Nathan Walsh (VIC), Kaden Dickfos (QLD), Ben Parish (SA), Tony Hampson (QLD), Ben Boyd (VIC), Shayne Bidwell (WA), Adam Ward (QLD), Scott Burkinshaw (NSW), Sean Nottle (SA), Patrick Butler (WA).