Gladiator Kesby busts up Force to take Sommers T20 Cup title
TOP ORDER batsmen Justin Gilbert and Alex Byrne set the platform but it was the bowling of Glenn Kesby that secured the 2015 Sommers T20 Cup championship for Gladiators at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Playing giant-killing franchise The Force which had bustled from the middle of the pack into the grand final, Gladiators batted first and posted 167 for the innings, thanks to solid hitting from Gilbert (36) and Byrne (42).
Daniel Harris wagged the tail with a rapid fire 36 and Kesby managed 11 in a short visit to the crease but the biggest mark was made by the latter when he took the ball in hand.
Force had an early setback with Matt Seccombe sent back with four runs against his name.
The run chase then settled down with Jake Barr contributing 32, followed by Jack Ireland's 48 and a neat 21 from ever-reliable Chris Neal.
Neal was Kesby's first victim and from there he, turned the match on its head.
Kesby clean bowled the last three men in while restricting the scoring and Force was finally dismissed for 138.
Fellow bowler Sam Durbidge also played a vital role by first sending Barr on his way and then taking out Dave Angus, the last man who might have been able to pull the game out of the fire.
