Newcastle representative captain Nick Foster chipped in with both bat and ball to guide his team to victory on day one of the NSW Country Championships.
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Off-spinner Foster took 2-28 from eight overs before making 28 not out from 33 deliveries, ensuring Newcastle reached North Coast's total of 180 with two wickets in hand and 23 balls remaining.
The former Bush Blues player hit five boundaries at Central Coast venue Jubilee Park and featured in an unbroken, ninth-wicket partnership of 46 with No.5 Jed Dickson, who finished 32 not out.
Newcastle lost 5-16 in the middle stages of their innings, going from 3-119 to 8-135, before Foster and Dickson combined to get the 2017-18 champions across the line.
Daniel Arms (33), Nathan Hudson (39) and Jeff Goninan (28) all made starts for Newcastle.
Earlier in the match Josh Geary (3-28), Adrian Chad (2-21) and Aaron Bills (2-31) clinched Newcastle's wickets.
Reigning NSW Country player of the year Caleb Ziebell (51) and James Julius (3-29) were North Coast's best performers.
In Friday's other first-round fixture, Central North were dismissed in the penultimate over just nine runs short of Central Coast's 156 at Sohier Park with Toronto premiership winner Dylan Robertson claiming 4-24 for the hosts.
Newcastle meet Central North on Saturday and Central Coast on Sunday.
