Corrimal need early wickets and Balgownie a safe hour of batting as the battle for the Illawarra cricket premiership enters a third day at North Dalton Park on Saturday.

Balgownie hold the upper hand having dismissed the Cougars for 128 and resume at 1-64.

Last Sunday's second day was washed out, leaving the spare day to decide the title.

Both clubs will target the first hour as crucial, though Corrimal have a full day of overs available to extend the game into a second innings if Balgownie take first innings points.

But Balgownie know if they make 129 it would leave Corrimal to take 19 wickets in one day and an unlikely outright victory to claim the premiership.

Balgownie opener David Murphy (29 not out) and Adam Berwick (18no) will want to continue their partnership on Saturday.

Corrimal have the competition's leading wicket-taker in spinner Xavier McDevitt, who has taken 51 wickets in 13 games.

The Cougars have time on their side and, if they don't take first innings points, must restrict Bally to a small first innings lead, then chase quick runs and apply pressure with the ball.

"We are not going to give up," Corrimal skipper Rob Fisher said.

"Our aim is early wickets and if we can do that we can put Bally under pressure.

"Anything can happen under pressure.

"If there's is a chance of us winning we'll play until the last ball. If there's not then I'm a realist and I'm not going to waste anyone's time."

Balgownie skipper Corbin Brown says his top order are ready for a Cougars onslaught.

"Adam [Berwick] and David [Murphy] put a lot of value on their wicket last week and the longer they bat the better for us.

"If we keep our discipline we'll be fine.

"Corrimal will throw everything at us; we just have to play our game and the runs will come."

Brown won a crucial toss and Balgownie medium-pacer Jason Bunyan exploited the overcast conditions and a difficult track to make runs on by taking a career-best 5-17.

"It was good conditions to bowl and just getting it up it put pressure on the batsmen," Bunyan said.

"We're in a good position but there's still work to be done."

The three lower-grade finals in Illawarra plus five grades of the South Coast competition were completed last weekend, leaving only Illawarra first grade to finish their season.

Illawarra clubs elected to schedule a spare weekend for the premiership final this season, after rain was a factor in several recent deciders.

Last season the umpires deemed conditions unplayable and called off the final between Keira and University with three overs left.

AS IT STANDS

Saturday 

Corrimal v Balgownie

North Dalton Park (11am)

Match status: Corrimal (128) v Balgownie (1-64)