Sydney Thunder book their berth in the final after beating Adelaide Strikers

Updated: 22 January 2016 17:20 IST - Published: 21 January 2016 14:02 IST

Congrats to both @ThunderBBL teams for making it to the @BBL finals. @Russell12A @stafanie20 keep flying the flag
— Darren Sammy (@darrensammy88) January 21, 2016

Game over. The Sydney Thunder win by 8 wickets. A special performance from Usman Khawaja (104 off 59) and they're in the #BBL05 Final
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

THUNDER WIN! What a day for the club, both teams into the #BBLFinal! That is for every member of the #ThunderNation Bring on Sunday!
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 21, 2016

Fittingly, Khawaja hits the winnings runs off Adil Rashid as Sydney Thunder book their spot in the final.

100 FOR UZ! Brings up the century with a six. What an innings! #ThunderNation #BBL05 pic.twitter.com/DkgSt0euRJ
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 21, 2016

100 for Khawaja. That's an incredible innings, almost chanceless. He's taken this game away from us, credit where credit's due #BBLSemis
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

#StatAttack No team has ever come first in the @BBL season& won. Only ONE team has finished first & made the final (@ScorchersBBL in #BBL01)
— TEN Sport (@tensporttv) January 21, 2016

HUNDRED! Khawaja gets to his hundred with a six over square leg. It is his second hundred in his last three matches for Thunder.

Under the radar, Henry Nicholls has crept upto 26 while Khawaja is still batting on 93. Thunder need 20 from the last four overs.

Big over for the Thunder, 16 off it. Going to be tough from here. Rashid back on #BBLSemis #BBL05
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

FOUR! Uzzie pulls one fine and he's into the nineties. Thunder 2-126. #ThunderNation #BBL05
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) January 21, 2016

Despite playing in only his third match, Khawaja is the fourth-highest run scorer in the current edition of the BBL.

Not going all our way on the field at the moment, but another incredible turnout from the #strikeforce! pic.twitter.com/DjyjEldzii
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

Really enjoying @Uz_Khawaja and his stroke play .. Awesome #BBL05
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) January 21, 2016

Khawaja right now can do anything in the world what he wants to THE MAGICIAN MAN! #BBL05 #BBLSemis pic.twitter.com/f9fcbyXWei
— HoldingWilleyCricket (@holdingwilley) January 21, 2016

Many congrats Aussie Uzzie Khawaja on the fastest 50 by a @ThunderBBL player. Just 24 balls. #BBL05 #BBLSemis
— Malcolm Conn (@malcolmconn) January 21, 2016

WICKET: Rashid!! Hussey is gone! Tries to reverse sweep, edges to Ludes. Thunder 2/87 after 8.5 #StrikersvThunder #BBL05 #BBLSemis
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

Oh so close! Mr Cricket nearly edges one first ball. Good over though. Just 4 runs and the wicket from it. Thunder 1/57 after 5 overs #BBL05
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

WICKET: There it is, Watson gone! Caught at short cover, he walks for 7. Thunder 1/57 after 4.5 overs #BBL05 #StrikersvThunder #BBLSemis
— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) January 21, 2016

Usman Khawaja's blazing fifty helps Sydney Thunder to get off to a flier: 2 . . 2 4 . 4 2 4 . 4 . . 4 . 4 6 4 4 4 . 1 1

Yes Rash!!! Serious striking 👊👊! #BBLSemis Adelaide to win now!
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) January 21, 2016

14 off 3 ... @AdilRashid03 #BigBash #FromYorkshire
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 21, 2016

Strikers post 7-159 from their 20 overs. Enough?

Rashid does it with the bat as well! Adds some invaluable runs for his team as he scores 14 off last 3 balls of the match 4 4 6

Rash goes 4,4! 1 ball left, all important runs.