A Hayden Mclean six from the last ball of Sunday’s First Grade T20 semi-final against Mosman secured UNSW Cricket Club a spot in the Sydney Sixers Conference Final set for Australia Day.
Facing his very first ball, the UNSW Commerce Graduate cleared the boundary, snatching the six needed for victory and continuing his side's run to a second successive Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup Final, slated for Sunday, February 6.
The final ball six at Mosman's Allan Border Oval followed a hat-trick of wickets in the last over before No.11 Declan White's single put Mclean on strike, with the Bees 9/149.
Batting at No. 10, Mclean had scored just 21 runs all season prior to his pivotal blow that sparked rapturous celebrations from his teammates, who raced onto the field of play to embrace their hero. The fast bowler also grabbed 3-21 from his four overs.
Hayden’s brother and captain, Brandon, earlier posted a vital 52 from 31 balls to put UNSW within striking distance. However, the skipper - also a UNSW Commerce Graduate - was the second wicket to fall in the hat-trick with the score on 148.
At one stage, UNSW was 5/94 chasing the 155 required.
UNSW meets Randwick Petersham on Australia Day, at Coogee Oval, for a place in the T20 Cup Final. The winner to play the Thunder Conference champions being either Sydney University or Parramatta.
The Bumblebees were beaten by Bankstown Cricket Club in the deciding match last season.
Randwick Petersham came back from 6/82 on Sunday to defeat St George by two wickets, also clinching victory with a six in the final over, but with four balls to spare.
Australia Day’s Sixers Conference Final will be live streamed here at the NSW Premier Cricket Match Centre, from 2.30pm AEDT, accompanied by all match statistics.
UNSWCC celebrate their remarkable T20 semi-final win over Mosman, 23 January 2022 (Credit: UNSW Cricket Club)