Indigenous cricketers produce pair of nailbiters against MCC XI at the 'G

Jarred Cross and Callan Morse Published November 2, 2023 at 9.00am (AWST)

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The women's national Indigenous cricket team ahead of their match against a MCC XI on Wednesday. (Image: Jarred Cross/NIT)

The national Indigenous men's and women's cricket teams played out a pair of thrillers against Melbourne Cricket Club XI's at Australia's home of cricket on Wednesday.

For the many young and emerging players taking the field, plying their trade on the MCG could have proven memorable enough, before nail biting finishes eventuated in both matches.

After the men's team held on for a six run victory, the women's side fell painfully short after falling behind the required rate late in the chase.

Both Indigenous outfits looked unfazed by the occasion, displaying strong strokeplay with the bat and clean hands in the field.

Runs were shared evenly by the men's Indigenous XI with three batters scoring 20 or more, before superb work by the Indigenous XI's death bowlers secured them the win.

After impressing with the bat earlier in the match with an innings high 28 (21), NSW-raised, Western Australian-based allrounder Brock Larance produced some brilliant death bowling to prevent the MCC XI from chasing down the Indigenous XI's 7-122.

With his off-breaks, Larance allowed just three singles from the final over whilst affecting a run out and trapping MCC's last facing batter in front to end the hosts' innings at 9-116.

Despite his match-winning efforts Larance was modest, telling National Indigenous Times it was a "scratchy" over.

Tassie quick Brandon Kopper (2-11) was similarly impressive in the 19th over, allowing just three singles and taking a wicket of his own to force MCC XI deep into their tail.

NSW's Blake Smith (2-15) played his part midway through the Indigenous XI's bowling innings, dismissing the dangerous-looking MCC captain Jack Prestwidge 29 (21), before creating a series of chances, while fellow Tasmanian seamer Ben Spinks also bowled well.

Hometown boy and Indigenous men's side captain Bailey Toseland delivered four tidy overs with the ball, finishing with figures of 1-12.

*The men's national Indigenous team and MCC XI at the MCG on Wednesday. (Image: Jarred Cross/NIT)*

Later in the afternoon, Queenslander Grace Abdee starred in the field with a two catches to put her side in a strong position as the MCC XI posted 7-108.

Destiny Mippy (1-8) and Clodagh Ryall (0-21) both had genuine chances go down as the MCC XI's batters looked to attack the Indigenous XI's bowlers.

However Mippy and Ryall steadied throughout their spells, with seamer Piper Hooke (1-15) taking a wicket with her first ball.

Captain Christina Coulson (1-20) and Aimee Ravot (1-9) also picked up wickets for the Indigenous XI.

During the chase, Dharmini Chauhan played well for her 25 (21) while fellow opener Lara Graham anchored the innings with 37 (46), to see the Indigenous XI on track for victory.

However the MCC XI clawed themselves back into the match after Graham was run out attempting a second run with the Indigenous XI still requiring 23 to win.

Without the set batter of Graham, the Indigenous XI's middle order was fell just short, ending at 6-103.

The two sides continue their camp in Naarm this week.