A comprehensive performance from allrounder Clint Hinchliffe has helped Western Australia book their place in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships men's decider after WA comfortably defeated Victoria on Monday.
The left-arm leg spinner took a team-best 3-8 from his four overs after WA skipper Jay Collard won the toss and invited Victoria bat first at Albrecht Oval.
Entering the attack as WA's fifth bowler, Hinchliffe first picked up Victorian allrounder Wade King (10 from 11), going on to partner with left-arm orthodox bowler Michael Bailey (2-11) to see Victoria lose 5-37 through their middle overs.
Victoria managed to scrape to a moderate total of 8-77 from their 20 overs, Bailey Toseland top scoring with 16 (29).
Toseland, King and opener Kane Hawkins (11 from 15) were the only Victorian batters to reach double figures.
WA's spinners were damaging throughout the innings with off-spinners Brock Larance (1-16) and Yagan Walley (1-14) also picking up wickets.
In response Western Australia wasted no time, passing the target score with more than eight overs to spare.
Although losing his opening partner in Larance (4 from 4) early, Hinchliffe remained a steady hand at the crease, compiling an unbeaten 31* (34), an innings which included three boundaries.
He partnered with Hugh Sando (18* from 16) in a 42-run third wicket stand to see Western Australia advance to the final with ease.
Leading into the decider, the 27-year-old sits second on both the tournament's runs and wickets tally with 161 runs at 32.2 and 12 wickets at an average of just seven behind teammate Brock Larance (274 runs at 45.67 and 13 wickets at 7.85)
Western Australia will face the winner of New South Wales and Tasmania in Tuesday's final.
