Quantcast

Christian leads Aboriginal XI to final win

The men's Aboriginal XI finish the commemorative tour on a winning note in Nottinghamshire, while the women's XI fell to a star-studded England Academy team

A powerful 61 off 25 balls from Dan Christian has led the men’s Aboriginal XI to victory over Nottinghamshire in their final match of the 1868 commemoration tour.

In a double-header at Trent Bridge, the men’s Aboriginal XI claimed their fifth victory of the tour while the women’s XI were unable to finish on a winning note, losing to a star-studded ECB Academy team.

Taking on the Nottinghamshire team he will soon be captaining in England’s T20 domestic competition, Christian’s explosive knock helped the tourists reach 6-182 from their 20 overs with assistance from Brendan Smith’s 43 off 33.

SCORES: Aboriginal XI v Nottinghamshire men's

In reply, the pace of Brendan Doggett struck early claiming the wicket of Soloman Budinger in his first over, before Sam Doggett, Jonte Pattison and Christian all struck to leave the hosts 4-47.

Luke Wood played a lone hand for Notts, scoring 41 off 30, but a clinical finish in the field by the Aboriginal XI saw a total of six different wicket takers, with Larance claiming the best figures of 3-27 as Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 121.

The win leaves the men’s Aboriginal XI with five wins and one loss on tour while the women walk away with a win and three losses, following a 116-run defeat to an ECB Academy side boasting four recent England players.

'It's such a special thing to come to a ground like this'

The ECB side batted first and quickly gained the ascendancy in the match, with opener Bryony Smith and Emma Lamb piled on an impressive 79 run opening partnership off the first seven overs before Hannah Darlington finally struck for the visitors, dismissing Lamb for 31.

 However, the first wicket wasn’t the momentum killer than the Indigenous side had hoped for as ECB Academy captain Fran Wilson joined Smith at the crease and the pair blasted a further 111 runs off just 60 balls to help their side to 5-228 with Smith dismissed for 82 and Wilson out for 76.

 In reply Darlington and Sara Darney pushed the Aboriginal XI to 20 without loss before the ECB Academy took three quick wickets.

Captain Gardner smashed a quick 33 of 20 balls but with her departure saw the end of any hopes of victory for the Aboriginal XI squad who finished 9-112.

SCORES: Aboriginal XI v England Academy women

In the men’s match against Nottinghamshire the Aboriginal XI won the toss and elected to bat. Brendan Smith continued his sparkling form with the bat smashing five 4s and two 6s on his way to 43. Captain Dan Christian was once against amongst the runs sending several balls into the second tier of Trent Bridge during his innings of 61 off just 25 balls.

Gardner and Boland were named the players of the tour, with each taking home one of the match cricket stumps used on tour that were painted by Aunty Fiona Clarke – the great-great granddaughter of Mosquito, a player from the 1868 tour.