ACT Aces secure semi-finals spot in Regional Bash after third round washout

The Aces cemented their position on top of the region's ladder with a seven-run win over the Border Bullets at Phillip Oval on Sunday, but earned direct qualification to the finals when their clash with the Murrumbidgee Rangers was called-off with rain.

Mick Delaney's side will face Central West in a semi-final showdown at the SCG in January, with the winner to face either Lake Macquarie Attack or Coffs Coast Chargers in the decider.

Aces captain Rhys Healy believes the ACT have the depth and talent to claim their maiden title after falling short to the Central Coast in last season's final.

"It's really exciting to go back to the SCG, probably right a few wrongs and make up for where we fell short last year," Healy said.

"Hopefully we're stronger, if we play the way we should then we can go one better. We've got the quality of players, so if we execute our plan and the way we want to play then it doesn't matter too much about the opposition.

"We've just got to back ourselves and if we prepare as well as we should then it'll be enough to get over."

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Batsman Matthew Condon played a crucial role in setting up the Aces' semi-final berth, opening with a 56-run haul against the Bullets.

Healy and Ethan Bartlett were caught early in the Aces' innings but they managed to ground out a total of 135 as Thomas Vane Tempest led from the middle order.

"It was crucial. He was key to our innings in the way he was able to dictate the game, put the pressure on the Bullets and set us up with a good score," Healy said of Bartlett.

"We probably left a few out there in the last overs to only get 135, we were probably looking to 140-plus. But the way the wicket was playing, especially early with the ball, we took three wickets and always felt we were ahead of the game and were able to control it."

Bowler Tyler Van Luin took three wickets in four overs while Ollie Anable sent opening batsman Thomas Johnson and Jack Craig walking for four.

"It looked like it could have gone either way but with the quality of bowlers we had, we take confidence they failed to execute their plans and we were able to get the win," Healy said.

"Ollie and Tyler started off really well for us with the new ball. If you take three wickets in the first six overs then you win close to 70 per cent of Twenty20 matches.

"We started off really well there and Tyler especially with his death bowling at the end. He barely missed a yorker which made it really hard for the Bullets to score and took a couple extra wickets."

Meanwhile, Cricket NSW are looking to reschedule the women's clash between the Aces and Bullets next month, with the winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals.

REGIONAL BASH

ACT ACES 8-135 (Condon 56, Van Tempest 28*; Van Luin 3 wickets) bt BORDER BULLETS 8-128 (Brown 58, Daniel 21).