A hard-fought win by the UNSW Cricket Club, or the 'Bees' as they are affectionately known, has taken the team through to the grand final of the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup.
The competition was split into two conferences, with the Bees playing in the Sixers conference, which they took out on Sunday after defeating Gordon at Chatswood Oval.
Despite losing the toss and bowling first, the Bees weren't fazed and set about restricting their opponents with tight bowling and regular wickets. Adrian Isherwood struck immediately, removing Gordon's opener Tym Crawford for a first ball duck. A strong third wicket stand helped to rebuild Gordon's innings, but the UNSW bowlers persisted.
Isherwood finished with 2/28, while fellow opening bowler Declan White finished with identical figures - also 2/28. Run outs were also crucial in restricting Gordon - with Suthangan Thanabalasingam and Thomas Byrnes both affecting key run outs. Gordon finished with 6/150 from their 20 overs.
In reply UNSW didn't get off to the best start, losing Thomas Scoble for just 2 early in the innings. However Isherwood (62) and Jack Attenborough (57) built a formidable partnership of 115 before Isherwood was removed with a sharp catch. Attenborough followed not too long afterwards, but important cameos at the end from Brandon McLean and Tom Byrnes sealed the victory by seven wickets with 10 balls remaining.
UNSW will now progress to the grand final at Bankstown Oval on Tuesday 26 January, where they will take on the winners of the Thunder conference, Bankstown.