Wodonga co-coach Jack Craig played a crucial role in Victoria Country completing the double at the Australian Country Championships on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Victoria defeated reigning champions Western Australia by 49 runs with Craig combining in a critical 76-run stand for the fifth wicket.
It followed the T20 win the previous week.
"It was great, not many people sort of backed us in to win at the start, to win was a great feeling," Craig said.
After winning the toss in the grand final, Victoria was teetering at 4-77 when Craig arrived at the wicket.
He and Lee Stockdale's half-century stand pushed the score to 153 before the hard-hitting Cricket Albury Wodonga star was dismissed.
He made 36 from 40 balls, hitting two fours and a six, as the team finished with 194 from 49.3 overs.
"'Stocky's' a good bloke to bat with, we bounced off each other, it was good fun out there," Craig said.
WA lost three early wickets and finished with 145.
Craig's finish to the gruelling nine-day carnival contrasted with his frustrating start.
The 25-year-old posted a golden duck in the opening T20 game against WA and then didn't bat until round seven.
"He played a stinking shot on day one, ball straight down fine leg's throat, (he) should have rotated the strike, we've had that discussion. After that, I couldn't be prouder of him," coach Mark Ridgway said.
Driving to the airport on Sunday with his coach, the former Tasmanian Sheffield Shield paceman, Craig admitted the start to the tournament inspired his attitude.
"Probably more anger," he said.
Probably more anger. I didn't want to ruin an opportunity, I wanted to be in the team, I let that drive me a little bit.
- Victoria Country's Jack Craig on his frustrating start to the carnival where he had one bat in the first six games
"I didn't want to ruin an opportunity, I wanted to be in the team, I let that drive me a little bit.
"Yeah, (the start was frustrating but) it's just about playing your role and that was my role in the side."
Craig finished with 128 runs at 21.3, with a highest score of 43 against ACT in round eight.
He bowled only 14 overs, snaring 2-63.
Meanwhile, CAW team-mate Fraser Ellis didn't contest the decider.
The right-arm quick had a terrific three-game stretch through the 50-over fixtures, claiming 8-106.
He started with 2-21 against Queensland last Tuesday and followed it with 3-58 (ACT) and 3-27 (South Australia).
IN OTHER NEWS:
Ellis finished with 11 wickets at 16.5 with Ridgway declaring early in the carnival he could play first grade at any Premier League outfit.
The pair was part of the record-breaking four representatives at the titles.
Lavington's Ryan Brown debuted for NSW, snaring three wickets, while Brock-Burrum's Catherine Wood averaged 13 with the bat for NSW in the women's event.