Slow and steady gets job done against valiant Westlawn

GI HOTEL Tucabia-Copmanhurst is the first team through to the CRCA Premier League grand final after Matt Pigg played a starring role at Ellem Oval yesterday.

ROCK SOLID: Matt Pigg produced a top-class half-century to guide Tucabia-Copmanhurst to a four-wicket victory over Westlawn at Ellem Oval yesterday, putting his side into the 2013/14 Clarence River Cricket Association Premier League grand final CRCA. PHOTO: DEBRAH NOVAK

GI HOTEL Tucabia-Copmanhurst is the first team through to the CRCA Premier League grand final after Matt Pigg played a starring role at Ellem Oval yesterday.

Pigg led the way with an unbeaten 74 as Tucabia downed MI Organics Westlawn in an engrossing two-day encounter.

Chasing 135, Tucabia resumed yesterday at 4-101 thanks to a nerve-settling 72-run partnership from Pigg and his captain Bob McKenzie (35), who was dismissed late Saturday.

But the nerves returned almost immediately with Pat Vidler removing nightwatchman Joey Pigg (0) and Nathan Essex (3) in quick succession.

With his side teetering at 6-108, Andrew Buchanan joined Matt Pigg at the crease but they were made to work hard for the runs.

Nathan Blanch bowled seven consecutive maidens as Buchanan patiently waited 34 balls to get off the mark.

Blanch (4-47 off 24) and Vidler (2-32 off 19) continued to challenge the batsmen but Pigg and Buchanan (22) maintained their focus.

Pigg and Buchanan took 23 overs to score the 35 required runs to claim first innings points in the match that was increased to 100 overs per side for the finals

The winning runs came courtesy of Pigg who flicked a ball off his pads to the boundary on one of the rare occasions that Blanch strayed down leg side.

"Piggy's had a really good season," McKenzie said.

"I said after last year's grand final he's the best cricketer in the comp and the stats speak for themselves. He seems to get better with age."

McKenzie said the corresponding match against Coutts Crossing 12 months ago highlighted Buchanan's determination.

"Bucky has one of the biggest hearts going around and doesn't give his wicket away cheaply," he said.

"You've just got to look at last year when Brad Chard broke his arm and he kept batting for a long time afterwards."

Tucabia continued to bat in an attempt to thwart a last-ditch outright attempt from Westlawn and was dismissed with a lead of 52 runs.

Westlawn then reached 3-98 but was eventually forced to surrender when a storm forced an end to proceedings.

The side's leading run scorer Simon Wilson will have welcomed the second stint at the crease, scoring a quick-fire 40 off 49 balls after managing just nine in the first innings.

Originally published as Slow and steady gets job done against valiant Westlawn