UN-FAHEY-SED: 14-year-old Eli steers Coutts into grand final
CRCA 2ND GRADE: 14-year-old Eli Fahey displayed nerves of steel to guide Coutts Crossing into the GDSC Second Grade grand final.
Chasing Tucabia Copmanhurst John Williams Optometrist's 230 in the preliminary final at McKittrick Park, Fahey came in at 2 for 13 and batted 76 overs for his 104*.
After No.11 Linden Harris (8no) poked a quick single to put Fahey on strike, he hit an elegant drive past mid off for the winning runs.
Coutts captain Dan Blackman, who hit a quickfire 48 in an important 69-run 6th wicket stand with Fahey, praised the batsman.
"Eli carried us through. He well and truly won the game for us," Blackman said.
"He's years ahead of his time. He picks everyone else up and boosts the side. When he plays everyone wants to play well around him.
"We knew if we could but out our overs it could be a tight contest and it went right down to the wire."
The century was Fahey's fifth in his short career, and his third for the Coutts Crossing second grade side.
Coutts will play the other Tucabia side - minor premiers Tucabia Copmanhurst Phil Lloyd Earthmoving - in the grand final this Saturday and Sunday.
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SCOREBOARD
CLARENCE RIVER CRICKET ASSOCIATION
GDSC 2ND GRADE
TUCABIA COPMANHURST JWO v COUTTS CROSSING
At McKittrick Park
Saturday/Sunday
Toss: Tucabia
Tucabia Innings
M Henwood c Lawson b Hambly 47
R Sullivan c Webb b Blackman 0
E Hourigan c J Harris b Hambly 17
D Woods b O'Connell 41
R McDonald c Atkins b Hambly 0
T Sullivan st Atkins b O'Connell 0
J Chard run out (J Harri) 55
M Nielson b L Harris 0
J Hough not out 40
J Collen c L Harris b Blackman 8
T Niland lbw O'Connell 8
Extras (b 7, lb 5, w 3, nb 1) 16
Total: 230
Overs: 77.1
FoW: 1-4 (R Sullivan) 2-53 (E Hourigan) 3-75 (M Henwood) 4-77 (R McDonald) 5-80 (T Sullivan) 6-174 (J Chard) 7-175 (D Woods) 8-175 (M Nielson) 9-188 (J Collen) 10-230 (T Niland)
Bowling: L Harris 13-2-39-1, D Blackman 18-7-43-2, E Munro 10-1-39-0, D Hambly 12-3-37-3, E Fahey 9-2-27-0, N O'Connell 12.1-4-21-3, D Trickett 3-0-1-12-0.
Coutts Crossing Innings
D Trickett b Hourigan 5
J Harris b Henwood 6
N Lawson c and b Henwood 2
E Fahey not out 104
A Webb c Hough b Hourigan 2
N O'Connell c Niland b Henwood 20
D Blackman b Niland 48
R Atkins c McDonald b Henwood 15
D Hambly b Henwood 9
E Munro b Hourigan 2
L Harris not out 8
Extras (b 3, lb 6) 9
NINE wickets for 232
Overs: 84.1
FoW: 1-6 (J Harris) 2-13 (N Lawson) 3-29 (D Trickett) 4-39 (A Webb) 5-85 (N O'Connell) 6-154 (D Blackman) 7-194 (R Atkins) 8-211 (D Hambly) 9-220 (E Munro)
Bowling: J Hough 20-7-48-0, M Henwood 25-5-68-5, T Sullivan 1-1-0-0, M Neilson 14-2-35-0, E Hourigan 13.1-3-27-3, R McDonald 5-1-16-0, T Niland 6-0-21-1.
Coutts Crossing won by 1 wicket
Grand final, next week: Tucabia Copmanhurst PLE v Coutts Crossing
