MACKAY (Queensland, Australia): Victoria will face Western Australia for the title in the men’s division of the 2026 edition of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC). The final will be played on Sunday.
Victoria entered the final after New South Wales failed to make the cut, losing to PNG Barramundis by 9 wickets in the last game of Round 7 of the round robin stage. New South Wales was placed third in the table. Since they lost, Victoria, which was already at second place in the table with 9 points from 7 matches, entered the title. Western Australia had already gone through to the final as they topped the table with 13 points from 7 matches (6 wins, 1 game abandoned).
PNG Barramundis, participating in the tournament on invitation, are not eligible for points or for a place in the final match.
New South Wales lost their last outing to PNG Barramundis by 9 wickets. Batting first, New South Wales scored a moderate 140 for 4 in their 20 overs. Opener Jack Hartigan top-scored with 48 off 37 balls (5 x 4). In reply, PNG Barramundis reached their target of 141 in 13.3 overs, losing only 1 wicket in the process. Openers Sese Bau (50 off 34 balls, 8 x 4) and Tony Ura (67 not out off 36 balls, 5 x 4, 3 x 6) sealed the fate of their opponents as they put on 116 runs for the first wicket. This left very little work for number 3 batsman Patrick Nou (16 not out off 12 balls, 1 x 4) except watch Ura complete the task at the other end.
Earlier in the day, Western Australia ended the winning streak of PNG Barramundis to enter the finals while defending champions Queensland suffered their third defeat and got pushed into extinction.
The Finals Round 1 match will be played on Sunday in T20 format.
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