Balgownie hold the upper hand, resuming at 1-64 after dismissing the Cougars for 128 on day one.

 Last Sunday’s  second day was washed out, leaving today’s  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 his Illawarra representative teammate Adam Berwick (18) will want to continue their partnership this morning. 

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

  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 til the last ball. If there’s not then 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 cricket, plus five grades of the South Coast competition were completed last weekend, leaving only Illawarra first grade to finish their season.

  Illawarra cricket 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 declared conditions unplayable and called off the decider between Keira and University with three overs due to be bowled.