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Unlikely hero Cameron Borgas blasted a half-century as South Australia ended 15 barren years with victory over NSW in the Twenty20 final in Adelaide on Saturday night.
Chasing 154 to win, Borgas slammed a defining 62 from 39 balls and doctor Dan Harris delivered 48 from 39 as the Redbacks cruised to an eight-wicket win with 15 balls to spare.
In reply to NSW’s 8-153, SA posted 2-155 from 17.3 overs to land their first title since a Sheffield Shield triumph in 1995/96.
Borgas and Harris put on an unbroken 100-run partnership for the third wicket to ensure the Redbacks collected the $100,000 prize.
Borgas, who has failed to cement a spot in a decade-long career, underpinned SA’s successful run chase and posted his half-century from just 33 balls.
And the in-form Harris delighted the 27,290 crowd with another stellar knock to end the series as the highest scorer.
The duo paced the chase perfectly, finishing with a flourish to make some amends for SA losing the T20 final last season.
Earlier, NSW opener Daniel Smith top scored with 43 from 35 balls and Moises Henriques made 41 from 34 deliveries, but frequent wickets robbed the Blues of meaningful momentum.
NSW created a solid platform of 2-82 after 10 overs but stumbled and lost 6-55 to end their innings without a late flurry.
SA’s 19-year-old quick Kane Richardson took 3-31, including the key wicket of dangerous Dave Warner.
Warner had smacked three fours and landed a six on top of the Chappell Stand roof in an ominous opening, but was bowled for 21 from 16 balls.
Redbacks offspinner Nathan Lyon’s success continued with another two victims, taking his tournament tally to 11 – equal highest with Blues teenager Patrick Cummins – while left-arm tweaker Aaron O’Brien managed a T20 rarity: a maiden over during a tight four over spell of 1-20.
SA captain Michael Klinger said the result was terrific for the Redbacks.
“It’s fantastic for South Australian cricket,” he said.
“We are doing a lot of things right, sometimes performances don’t really show it.”
Klinger hailed the unbroken century partnership between Borgas and Harris, saying it completed a well planned match.
“Pretty much as our planning went, the game turned out, so we’re pretty happy,” he said.
NSW captain Stuart Clark said despite the loss, he was proud of his players.
“I’m really proud of them, not many people gave us a hope at the start of the year,” he said.
“We have got a lot of young guys aged between 17 and 22 and they have performed beautifully.
“The biggest thing about tonight is, we have lost, but they are going to get experience in front of a 25-30,000 crowd and you can’t get used to playing in that unless you do it.”
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