![WHAT A PLAYER: Albury's Innocent Kaia opened the bowling against Tallangatta after scoring an unbeaten century. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE WHAT A PLAYER: Albury's Innocent Kaia opened the bowling against Tallangatta after scoring an unbeaten century. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/andrew.moir/3aa3f003-8252-4b1f-9c61-5b7b685f69ba.jpg/r0_0_4429_2953_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Albury sensation Innocent Kaia believes he can go to another level after posting his highest score in a powerhouse performance against Tallangatta on Saturday.
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The Zimbabwean struck an unbeaten 114 from 135 deliveries, with 16 boundaries, as the visitors cruised to a six-wicket win.
Despite arriving only midway through the season, Kaia managed a superb 642 runs at 71.3, with two tons and four half-centuries.
He scored 109 against East Albury on January 18.
Albury will host East in Saturday's semi-final and Kaia was quizzed if he can get better.
"Yeah, sure I think I can improve if I give myself time," he said.
"The key is patience."
Tallangatta won the toss at home with Phil Neville and Oliver Willett combining in a 31-run opening stand.
Willett was dismissed for 18 with Grant Chessari joining Neville in a 42-run stand.
Chessari and Sahib Malhotra carried the score to 90 before the former was dismissed for 30.
Malhotra finished unbeaten on 89 from only 86 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries and three sixes.
Quite remarkably, Malhotra hit that 89 from the next 112 in the total of 9-185.
"He batted very well because everybody was getting out (around him)," Kaia praised.
The Bushies lost 7-55 to slump to 9-145, but Malhotra manipulated the strike to put on 40 for the final wicket with Ryan Bartel (two not out).
Impressive English teenager Louis Botes (3-32) and Kade Brown (3-42), in his first game back after dislocating his kneecap a fortnight ago, strangled Tallangatta's middle and lower order.
The six batsmen between numbers five and 10 contributed only nine runs.
Kaia and Alex Popko posted a 28-run opening stand before the latter fell for 11.
However, Kaia and Brown took the match away from the Bushies with a 115-run partnership.
Brown fell for 40 from 68 balls, including three boundaries, but his dismissal didn't slow Kaia, who showed why he's the player to watch in finals.
Paceman Sam Stephens finished with 3-39.
"The vibe at the club at the moment is great, everybody is excited by the finals, people are working hard," Kaia said.
The first week of finals will see the two-lowest ranked teams bundled out.
Minor premiers Wodonga will host Tallangatta, which is facing sudden death.
Long-time rivals Lavington (home) faces North Albury, which is also playing sudden death.
Albury's home clash against the Crows will be the club's first final in 12 years.
Albury went out in straight sets to Tallangatta and East Albury in March, 2008.
Both teams could lose and still survive, pending results in the other semis.