MACKAY (Queensland, Australia): Defending champions Queensland stumbled at the first step of the defense of their title as they got beaten by Papua New Guinea (PNG Barramundis) in their T20 match in Round 1 of the men’s section on the first day of the 2026 edition of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC) here on Tuesday.
PNG Barrimundis beat Queensland by 8 wickets. Batting first, Queensland scored 123 for 4 in their 20 overs. Queensland lost two quick wickets – that of opener Joshua Wilson (6 runs in 7 balls) at 10 and then Dylan McLachan (5 runs off 8 balls) when the score was 16. Opener Jaecob Prien and Darcy Graham then added 52 runs for the third wicket. They seemed to be cruising along well, but Prien (19 runs off 41 balls) returned to the pavilion with the team on 68. Noah Vojinov (19 runs off 12 balls) then joined Graham and the two took the team to 115. Graham (57 runs off 50 balls; 5 fours) departed when the team was on 115. Vojinov and George Fisher (4 runs off 3 balls) remained not out as they added another 8 runs for the unfinished partnership.
In reply, PNG scored a comfortable 129 for 2, reaching the target in just 14.3 overs. Opener Tony Ura alone contributed half of the tally, scoring smashing 64 off 41 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes. Patrick Nou chipped in with 31 (off 22 balls, 3 4, 1 x 6) and remained not out. PNG did seem rattled when they lost opener Sene Bau (17 off 13 balls) at 38, and Lega Saika (12 off 13 balls) at 66. However, Ura took command and was supported by Nou, and they comfortably scored the remaining 63 runs without further trouble.
PNG Barramundis are making their debut in the championship, marking the first time in the tournament’s 10 years that an overseas team is participating.
In the other games of the day, Western Australia beat South Australia by 9 wickets. Batting first, South Australia scored 177 for 7. In reply, Western Australia scored 120 for the loss of only 1 wicket, reaching the target in 9.3 overs. Opener D’Arcy Short shone with the bat, scoring a lightning 52 off 22 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes. Short and opener Bevan Bennell sealed the deal for Western Australia when they put on 80 runs for the first wicket. Bennel (39 off 22 balls, 8 x 4) and Dane Ugle (20 off 14 balls, 1 x 4, 2 x 6) then added the remaining 40 runs.
In another game, New South Wales beat Northern Territory by a huge margin of 95 runs. Batting first, New South Wales scored a huge 175 for 8, thanks to a masterly 50 by opener Brynley Richards (off 39 balls, 10 x 4), and smashing 32 by Callan Mckiernan (off 15 balls, 5 x 4, 1 x 6). The departure of Richards with the team at 96 triggered a collapse, with New South Wales losing 5 wickets in the space of just 12 runs – Richards being followed by Jack Hartigan and Riley Keen at 100, Ethan Fitzpatrick at 103 and Blake Smith at 108. A disaster seemed eminent, but Mckierman and Ryan Fenning (19 runs off 17 balls, 2 x 4) stabilized the innings, taking their team to 163. New South Wales lost two wickets in quick succession – Mckierman at 163 and Lucas Sheehy (1 run off 2 balls) at 164. Keen and Luca Croft then prevented further damage to see the team to 175.
Northern Territory never found their feet when chasing their target. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals, losing the first when the score was 0. The New South Wales bowlers bundled out Northern Territory in a mere 14.3 overs for an emphatic win.
In another game, Tasmania got the better of Victoria by 29 runs. Tasmania scored 167 for 6 in their 20 overs, while Victoria could manage only 138 for the loss of 8 wickets
In Round 2, which was also played on Wednesday, PNG Barramundis beat Tasmania by 111 runs. Batting first, PNG Barramundis scored a huge 189 for 7. In reply, Tasmania were bundled out for a mere 78 runs in 16.3 overs. Queensland beat Northern Territory by 14 runs. Batting first, Queensland scored 134 for 8. Northern Territory scored 120 all out in 19.4 overs. Western Australia beat Victoria by 5 wickets. Batting first, Victoria scored 141 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Western Australia scored 145 for 5 in 19.3 overs. In another game, New South Wales beat South Australia by a whopping 120 runs. Batting first, New South Wales scored a huge 193 for 7 in their 20 overs. South Australia failed to chase the target down, managing only 73 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Round 3 of the tournament will be held on Wednesday. Northern Territory will face Western Australia, South Australia will face Tasmania, Queensland will play New South Wales, and Victoria will play PNG Barramundis.
Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel and get instant updates
