The bushfires have played havoc with the Country Colts Championships in Bathurst.
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Rounds two and three were cancelled due to poor air quality.
Round four was delayed, with the T20 clashes finally getting under way at about 4pm on Wednesday, when the air quality index dipped below 200.
At just before 7am on Wednesday, the index was at 242, which was considered unsafe for the players.
Central North finished the tournament with a six-wicket 50-over loss to Western on Thursday.
After winning the toss and batting, Central North were dismissed for 234 in the last over.
Western lost four wickets in chasing down the target, and doing so in the 39th over. Ben Mitchell was unbeaten on 146.
Beau Parnell (50) top-scored for Central North.
Central North finished the eight-team tournament in sixth place. Newcastle finished first.
Central Coast finished second, while ACT Southern Districts came third.
In their opening round clash on Monday, Central North delivered a spirited performance in a 21-run loss to ACT Southern Districts.
Gunnedah's Adam McGuirk, batting at No 3, top-scored for Central North with 49.
He combined with opener Jack Hamilton (44) for a 89-run second-wicket partnership that propelled Central North to 2-93.
It is McGuirk's second-straight year in the Colts side.
He has matured greatly as a player while playing with Old Boys over the past two seasons.
Another player who has matured greatly over the past two seasons is Gunnedah off-spinner Hayden Baker, who joined McGuirk at Old Boys this season and who made his Central North debut in Monday's match.
He acquitted himself well, taking 1-39 off nine overs.
In the T20 match on Wednesday, Central North beat Riverina by five wickets.
McGuirk again delivered, posting 42, after earlier taking 2-21 off three overs.
Baker had figures of 0-25 off three overs after being used first change.
Central North won the toss and put Riverina into bat.
Riverina made 5-168, with Central North passing the total in the 19th over.
Nathanael Mooney (89) propped up Riverina's innings, with Dylan Smith (2-30 off four overs) Central North's best bowler along with McGuirk.
Hamilton (67) was Central North's best batsman.
At the time this article was being written, Central North were engaged in a final round 50-over match against Western.
After winning the toss and batting, Central North were 5-107 from 29 overs.
McGuirk, again batting at No 3, was dismissed for six.
