Burgh boys into Twenty20 final

Helensburgh qualified for their maiden first-grade final by upsetting Corrimal in the Cricket Illawarra Twenty20 semi-final on Wednesday night.The Tigers will play South Coast side Oak Flats in the February 18 decider after defeating title-holders Balgownie in the second game of a Dalton Park double-header.In their fifth year back in the top grade after a hiatus, Helensburgh put a disappointing season behind them with the 31-run win.Batting first on a tricky deck, Tigers guest player Jason Holly set the tone with an explosive 28 including four fours and two sixes.Captain Andrew Northridge (33) then combined with brother Sam (20) to guide their side to a competitive 9-142.Corrimal lost danger man Dean Magee for two before captain Graeme Batty (34) and Rob Fisher (25) steadied the ship.Helensburgh eventually had the Cougars dismissed for 111.Helensburgh have struggled to keep juniors or attract new players in the past few years, but their skipper hopes this win can reverse that trend."It's a pretty big thing for us," Northridge said."It will encourage people to hang around. In the past people with any talent have gone elsewhere because first grade hasn't been competitive. "No-one wants to play for a club that gets touched up each week."Oak Flats will try to become the first South Coast side to win the Twenty20 competition after they upset Balgownie.The Rats comfortably chased down Bally's 106 in fading light.Balgownie captain Chris Sheppard said his side needed a sharp improvement in attitude after being eliminated from two competitions in less than a week.Defending champions in all three forms of the game, the Magpies also missed out on the one-day semi-finals.