LIVE: National Indigenous Cricket Championships

The National Indigenous Cricket Championships are being held in the Nrothern Territory, with select matches being live streamed from Traeger Park in Alice Springs. 

For full fixtures and results from the NICC, click HERE.

Women's T20 Final, 10am (11.30am AEDT)

New South Wales has won the women’s Grand Final at the 2017 National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC), defeating Queensland by just five runs in a scintillating contest. The victory means New South Wales has extended their winning streak in the women’s competition to 10 years.

Queensland, playing in just their second National Indigenous Cricket Championships within the women’s division and first Grand Final, made it to the final after an impressive six-wicket victory against the Northern Territory yesterday, while New South Wales secured their spot after finishing at the top of the ladder in regular round matches.

Men's 50-over final, 2pm (3.30pm AEDT)

The outstanding performances of the 2017 National Indigenous Cricket Championships have been recognised at a presentation dinner last night ahead of the Grand Finals today, with individual player awards announced as well as the men’s and women’s Black Caps squads for 2017.

New South Wales swept the individual player awards for the tournament, with Nathan Price named the men’s Player of the Tournament as well as the highest run scorer, and Ashleigh Gardner named women’s Player of the Tournament as well as being the highest run scorer and wicket taker.

Nathan Price had another outstanding NICC this year, scoring 248 runs at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 91.2. Price’s consistency was demonstrated in the fact he was New South Wales’ highest scoring batter in five of their six matches in the regular rounds of the championships. Western Australia’s Dane Ugle scored the second most runs at the NICC, 172 runs, while Queensland’s Preston White scored 168 runs.

Ashleigh Gardner was devastating with bat and ball during the NICC, playing a major hand in New South Wales making the Grand Final of the championships for the seventh consecutive year. Gardner scored 152 runs at a strike rate of 197.4 and with an average of 50.67, including a high score of 83. She also took nine wickets in four matches, the highlight being her 5/12 against Western Australia. New South Wales teammate Roxsanne Van-Veen (121) and the Northern Territory’s Carmella Gray (120) were the next most prolific run scorers, while Queensland’s Tamika Hansen (8 wickets) was runner up for highest wicket taker.

New South Wales’ Ben Mitchell recorded the most wickets in the men’s competition, heading into the final with 13 wickets to his name, including figures of 4/10 against Queensland. Mitchell outdid teammate Djali Bloomfield (11 wickets) and Tasmania’s Rhys Ward (11 wickets) to be the highest wicket taker.

In addition to the individual awards, the 2017 men’s and women’s Black Caps squads were announced, with players in the 12-member squads selected based on player performances throughout the NICC.

2017 Men’s Black Caps Squad: Preston White (QLD), Ben Abbatangelo (VIC), Nathan Price (NSW), Dane Ugle (WA), Adam McDermott (QLD), Hugh Sando (WA), Zac Chapman (NT), Ben Mitchell (NSW), Keren Ugle (WA), Rhys Ward (TAS), Djali Bloomfield (NSW), Worrin Williams (QLD).

2017 Women’s Black Caps Squad: Ashleigh Gardner (NSW), Roxsanne Van-Veen (NSW), Carmella Gray (NT), Nicole Honeysett (NT), Carly Fuller (QLD), Shaye Easton (QLD), Sara Darney (NSW), Sally Moylan (NT), Tamika Hansen (QLD), Kavita Pepper (WA), Jemma Astley (NSW), Julie Muir (NSW).

Fast Facts

• 36,900 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders participated in cricket in the 2015-16 cricket season. A 40% increase on 2014-15, and an increase of over 27000 in participants since 2013-14.
• 62 male and females playing first XI Premier Cricket across the country.
• 8 state contracted played (seven male and one female)
• 7 BBL contracted players and three WBBL contracted players
• The National Indigenous Cricket Championships are held in conjunction with the Imparja Cup, which involves more than 500 players competing in Major Centre Men, Community Men, Community Women and Schools Divisions.