WA storm into National Indigenous Cricket Championships women’s decider

Callan Morse Published April 7, 2025 at 8.00am (AWST)

Sport

Back-to-back performances from Mikayla Hinkley have lead Western Australia to a maiden National Indigenous Cricket Championships women's final berth. (Image: Albert Perez/Cricket Australia)

Western Australia will be out to claim a maiden National Indigenous Cricket Championships women's title after crucial wins at the weekend saw them storm into the tournament's decider.

Wins over Queensland on Saturday afternoon and defending champions New South Wales on Saturday night saw WA quality for the final for the first time.

Current Perth Scorcher Mikayla Hinkley was crucial in both of Western Australia's victories, smashing six 4s and a six on the way to 46 (22) against New South Wales after taking a tournament best 4/6 (2) against Queensland in WA's previous match.

Western Australia posted 6/84 against Queensland with opener Regina Deleeuw top scoring with 18 (14), with contributions also coming from the bat of Hinkley (17 from 11), Charlotte Toohey (14 from 11) and Elise Simpson (13 from 12).

Queensland's top order made a solid start in reply through Tracee Williamson (11 from 10) and Dharmini Chauhan (14 from 17) to reach 3/64 partway through their innings.

However despite a gallant effort from Christina Coulson (30 from 18) Queensland lost 5/5 late in the chase, including four to the bowling of Hinkley, to fall 13 runs short.

Western Australia then went on to secure their maiden final berth by comprehensively defeating New South Wales by 40 runs, knocking the defending champions out of finals contention.

Anchored by Hinkley's 46 WA posted a competitive 4/97, a total which proved to be far beyond New South Wales' batters who managed 9/57 in response.

Seren Simpson took 3/4 to be the pick of the WA attack, with opener Roxsanne Van-Veen (11 from 12) and Aimee Ravot (10 from 12) the only NSW batters to reach double figures.

In other matches on Saturday Queensland easily chased down Victoria's 4/60 without the loss of a wicket, openers Tracee Williamson (22* from 12) and Christina Coulson (31* from 18) leading the women in maroon to victory with five overs in hand.

Dharmini Chauhan (24* from 15) then led Queensland's successful chase of New South Wales modest 8/53 inside six overs, with Clodagh Ryall (3/3) the pick of the Queensland attack.

Victoria then posted 1/69 on the back of Tahlia Meier's 40* (33), which was chased down by New South Wales, led by Callee Black (23* from 12), with five balls to spare.

Western Australia will face Queensland in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships women's decider at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena on Monday morning.