Hawkesbury Cricket Club have entered the new year on a high after a massive win in their conference final against Bankstown in the NSW Premier Cricket Kingsgrove Sports Twenty20 Cup, on Sunday, December 22.
The Hawks were the underdogs heading into the match as Bankstown were undefeated throughout the competition winning all seven of their matches.
Bankstown batted first setting a total of 8/142 after 20 overs.
Hawkesbury's Abdul Hameed led the bowling with 3/25. Austin Philip, Nivvi Radhakrishnan, Bailey Thompson and Jaskaran Cheema each took one wicket.
The Hawks came out swinging with opening batsman Ryan Mizzi smashing 22 off 10 balls, including five boundaries, before being bowled.
Hawkesbury's Captain Peter Forrest and Dale Mckay combined for a partnership of 57 before Mckay was bowled for 36 off 34 balls.
The Hawks were 3/99 and only required 44 runs from 44 balls to win.
Victory was in sight but it was a hard fight to get the win as Bankstown had Hawkesbury at 6/128, needing 15 from 12 balls.
Despite two quick wickets in the final two overs some brilliant batting from Forrest, including a tricky ramp shot that led to three runs, saw Austin Philip on strike needing one from three balls.
Good fielding from Bankstown saw a dot ball, but a great shot down the field from Philip on the following delivery saw the two batsman cross for the final run.
Hawkesbury defeated Bankstown chasing down their total with 8/143 from 19.5 overs winning the Sydney Thunder Conference.
From here they will advance to a final against Sydney Cricket Club, winners of the Sydney Sixers Conference at Drummoyne Oval on Sunday, January 12.
This is Hawkesbury's first ever T20 competition final and the conference win has catapulted them into a spot in the National Premier Club T20 Finals which will be played in Adelaide in March.
Defeating Bankstown was one of Peter Forrest's main goals for this season as he wanted to really see the club improve at the short form of cricket this season.
"I always thought we would be better at T20 before the two-day matches. Which we have been," said Forrest.
"Hopefully going to the finals for T20. I want us to prove ourselves in T20 and reaching the final and national competition will show our improvement."
Cricket for all grades returns this Saturday, January 11 for a one-day limited over match against Eastern Suburbs. First, Third and Fifth Grades will play at home.
The club's Under 16's AW Green Shield side are midway through their 2019-20 competition after defeating Penrith and Bankstown on Saturday and Sunday.
After a close match with Penrith that saw victory in the last over, Hawkesbury dominated Bankstown, quickly chasing down their oppositions 67 runs, their second win in four matches.
Hawkesbury will look to break into the top eight on Sunday, January 12 when they face UNSW away.