Maroons Break Through | NICC Champs Salute

The men's team was the last hope for Queensland teams this season, with a flurry of second placed finishes across the summer leaving victory celebrations distinctly muted for the State.

But a magnificent captain's knock by Dylan McLachlan ensured the Queensland ledger for the season had its championship to celebrate, with the State's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players defeating their NSW counterparts by seven wickets in a tense Final at Great Barrier Reef Arena on Yuwi county in Mackay.

After earlier watching the Queensland Women's join the likes of the Queensland Bulls, Queensland Fire and WBBL Brisbane Heat finish as runners-up after qualifying in style for a Final, the Men's Final provided an ideal way to conclude on a high note.

It was the seventh time that Queensland had won the men's National Indigenous Cricket Championship.

McLachlan top-scored with 73 not out from 60 balls as he and local hero Cody Filewood (27 from 33 balls) produced the match defining partnership.

NSW overcame the early loss of captain Brendan Smith (4)  to young Sandgate-Redcliffe quick Jacbob Turner with fellow stalwart Pat Rosser (50) anchoring their innings before a hamstring injury forced him from the field.

McLachlan marshalled his slow bowlers superbly, ensuring NSW could not surge their scoring rate in the final overs as they were held to 6-122.

Left-arm spinner Noah Vojinow (2-20), teenage Toowoomba off-spinner Banjp Seaniger (1-17) and Pioneer Valley's Filewood (1-22) all kept their four over spells tight.

Queensland lost the dangerous opening pair of Brad Radford (1) and Cruz Baker (15) before McLachlan and Darcy Graham (8) started the rebuild.

Graham's run out brought Filewood to the crease and he proved a willing foil for his captain, hitting the Maroons only six in the innings when the gallant Rosser, hobbling in to bowl two overs of spin, over-pitched.

Filewood eventually fell to a similar fate to his NSW rival, suffering a quadriceps injury in the final oves that forced him from the field. But with Vojinov running freely, McLachan found the boundary twice in the 19th over to set up the win.

McLachlan, who played for the Queensland Academy and in the Toyota 2nd XI this season after previously making his debut for the Bulls the previous summer, enjoyed his return to the National Indigenous Championships in its new Mackay home after a lengthy period held in Alice Springs.

Earlier, ex-Queensland player Mikayla Hinkley proved the difference for her new team WA, with a similarly decisive batting effort to set up their first ever NICC women's title.

Hinkley, who had previously played for NSW and Queensland in the Imparja Cup, hit 71 from 44 balls as the WBBL player led from the front.

WA had 6-164 from their 20 overs, despite a fine effort by left-arm spinner Clodagh Ryall with the Wynnum-Manly player taking 3-34 from her four overs.

Queensland could not find the early partnership they needed in the power play, eventually being dismissed for 92 as they struggled to match the rising run-rate. Grace Abdy top-scored with 27.

Queensland captain Christina Coulson was named female player of the tournament, leading from the front to score 148 runs and take four wickets. She was one of six Queenslanders named in the women's team of the tournament.

After wet weather played havoc with the early part of the titles, forcing matches to be played in the T10 format in order to catch up, the Finals were played in glorious sunshine at the Harrup Park complex.

Full list of NICC Award Winners  

Women’s Player of the Series – Christina Coulson 

Men’s Player of the Series – Brock Larence   

Women’s Player of the Finals – Mikayla Hinkley 

Men’s Player of the Finals – Dylan McLachlan  

Women’s Fielding Award - Lucy Neumann 

Men’s Fielding Award – Brayden Devries 

Women’s Most Wickets - Elsie Simpson 

Men’s Most Wickets - Eli Sheean 

Women’s Most Runs - Mikayla Hinkley 

Men’s Most Runs - Brock Larence 

Women's Spirit of Cricket Award - Victoria 

Men's Spirit of Cricket Award – Northern Territory 

Men’s Team of the Tournament  

Brock Larence (WA) (C)  

Brayden DeVries (TAS) (WK) 

Tyler Latham (SA)  

Dylan McLachlan (QLD)  

Jack Pearce (TAS)  

Pat Rosser (NSW)  

Rhys French (TAS)  

Eli Sheean (TAS)  

Brandon Kopper (TAS)  

Bradley Ilott (NT) 

Pat Jackson (VIC) 

Austyn Nugent (NSW) 

 Women’s Team of the Tournament  

Mikayla Hinkley (WA)(C) 

Tahlia Meier (VIC)  

Christina Coulson (QLD)  

Callee Black (NSW) 

Tracee Williamson (QLD)  

Charlotte Toohey (WA)  

Lucy Neumann (QLD)  

Elsie Simpson (WA)  

Dharmini Chauhan (QLD)  

Regina Deleeuw (WA)  

Clodagh Ryall (QLD)  

Abdy Grace (QLD)