The newest format of the game has taken the world by storm and the local side has flourished in this new format in recent seasons.

The Boorowa side will go into the final as the outsiders against the Empire Royals who have taken all before them in both the regular competition and the shorter form this season.

The locals however are at full strength for the final and they won’t be holding anything back in their quest for victory.

They have reached the final the hard way overcoming two of the more prominent sides in Young cricket along the way, those being the Coyotes and the Blues.

The one thing Boorowa has this year is a number of players who can really score quickly.

The batting order for the T20 format is somewhat different to that of the normal Saturday competition in order to make the most of the field restrictions in the first six overs.

The top of the order will see Sam Lynam, Russell George, Brendan Shean and Simon Pye attempting to light up the night with their own fireworks.

The middle order also has some players capable of hitting some long bombs with the likes of Chris Dwyer, Justin Corkery, Tom Magee and Brian Dwyer devastating on their day.

In the lower order Rick Bennett and Phil Coggins will provide plenty of experience to either bat out the twenty overs or chase down the target in the crucial final overs. Cameron Johnston can also swing a bat and who could forget his coolness in the 2010 grand final to get the side across the line.

Josh Carmody has the capacity to continually rotate the strike whilst Nick Dwyer is no mug with the willow either.

The fact that all players can contribute with the bat will be crucial and this may well be the difference between the two teams.

The Empire is particularly strong at the top of the order but provided the bowlers can limit the damage early from Brendan Whitechurch in particular, they will be in with a great chance. In the bowling department Boorowa has plenty of fire power with Lynam, Chris Dwyer, Sean Dwyer and Russell George leading the way in the pace barrage. However, like the Big Bash, it may well be the slower bowling that does the damage. Players such as Bennett with his medium pacers along with Carmody, Shean and Coggins in the slow bowling armoury provide plenty of options.

The keeping duties are likely to be shared with our number one keeper Shean being ably supported by Simon Pye, Russell George or Justin Corkery.

Whilst T20s are often seen as smash and bash games, the tactics required are crucial as well.

Boorowa’s bowlers will need to bowl to a plan and be accurate to restrict the powerful Royals batsmen.

The batting line-up will also need to ensure they make the most of the twenty overs by respecting the more prominent bowlers and targeting the weaker links.

Wickets in hand for the last six or seven overs are crucial and with a deep batting line up a score of 150 is possible.

Whilst the excitement of playing in the T20 final is fantastic, the Boorowa boys will have little time to celebrate on Friday night, because just a few hours later they will be back on the field attempting to stay in reach of a semi final berth in first grade when they take on the Great Eastern Power. Fortunately it is a home game commencing at the Recreation Ground at 1pm Saturday. The squad for this weekends games is as follows : Chris Dwyer, Phil Coggins, Rick Bennett, Sean Dwyer, Russell George, Brendan Shean, Sam Lynam, Justin Corkery, Simon Pye, Cameron Johnston, Tom Magee, Brian Dwyer, Josh Carmody and Nick Dwyer.

If your Friday night is free, get along to Alfred Oval to support the lads.

If it isn’t free cancel your plans because this game will be a cracker and will be preceded by the Blues and the Power in the 2nd grade final at around 5pm.

See you at the Courthouse, Saturday evening where hopefully our cup will runneth over.

-Thirdman