The ACT Aces have completed a clean sweep of the Cricket NSW Regional Bash pool stage to edge closer to their first piece of silverware.
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A year after a technicality cruelled the ACT's title hopes, Rhys Healy scored a scintillating 68 from 49 balls to catapult the Aces into the Sydney Thunder conference semi-finals to be played on December 2.
Ginninderra's Healy and ANU stalwart Scott Murn (42 not out) combined to help the ACT to 7-145 from their 20 overs, before the Aces skittled the Wagga Wagga Sloggers for 98 at Robertson Oval on Sunday.
It came after a stellar bowling performance from Ethan Bartlett and Djali Bloomfield laid the platform for the Aces to capture their second win of the pool stages when they kept the Border Bullets to 9-99 from 20 overs at McPherson Oval that morning.
Josh Watling (33 not out) and Jordie Misic (32 not out) made light work of the target as the ACT secured a five-wicket win to put them within reach of a semi-final appearance.
Healy had already spearheaded the Aces to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in their opening match of the Regional Bash against the Murrumbidgee Rangers at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
A clean sweep means the Aces have advanced to the Thunder conference semi-final clash against the Central West Wranglers on December 2.
The victors will meet the winner of the Sydney Sixers conference semi-final between the Central Coast Rush and the Coffs Coast Chargers in the decider later that day.
AT A GLANCE
Cricket NSW Regional Bash game one: ACT ACES 2-113 (R Healy 44*, C Spink 25*; C Bock 1-15, D Bennett 1-29) bt MURRUMBIDGEE RANGERS 4-110 (D Bennett 56, A Edis 20; S Murn 1-17, E Rahman 1-21) by eight wickets at Robertson Oval.
Cricket NSW Regional Bash game two: ACT ACES 5-103 (J Watling 33*, J Misic 32*; D Tassell 2-23, R Brown 1-24) bt BORDER BULLETS 9-99 (G Daniel 28, R Jackson 21; E Bartlett 3-10, D Bloomfield 3-26) by five wickets at McPherson Oval.
Cricket NSW Regional Bash game three: ACT ACES 7-145 (R Healy 68, S Murn 42*; A Smeeth 3-36, L Skelly 1-17) bt WAGGA WAGGA SLOGGERS 98 (A Maxwell 37, A Smeeth 17; E Bartlett 2-2, D Bloomfield 2-14) by 47 runs at Robertson Oval.
ACT Aces squad: Ethan Bartlett (c), Corey Spink, Rhys Healy, Scott Murn, Jordie Misic, Esam Rahman, Robbie Trickett, Josh Watling (wk), Jack Allen, Josh Low-McMahon, Ollie Anabel, Djali Bloomfield, Praveen Mathai.