WA captains Bevan Bennell, Veronica Keen a class above at National Indigenous Cricket Championships

Callan Morse Published March 8, 2023 at 11.30am (AWST)

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Experienced Western Australian National Indigenous Cricket Championships campaigner Bevan Bennell had a strong tournament with the bat. Image: Chris Hyde.

The red dust of Central Australia has settled following the completion of the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC), which saw history made in both the men's and women's state and territory divisions.

New South Wales' men's side won a record fourth consecutive title whilst Queensland's women's side remained undefeated to claim their first national title, ending New South Wales' 13-year dominance of the women's division.

Although Cricket Australia did not recognise individual player performances by naming the tournament's traditional honorary squads, known as the 'Black Caps', exceptional individual performances were acknowledged through new NICC award categories.

Men's Division Batting Award and Player of the Championships - Bevan Bennell, Western Australia

After being dismiss cheaply (6 from 8) against Tasmania in Western Australia's tournament opener, the top order batter from Kalgoorlie's Great Boulder Cricket Club quickly found his feet, peeling off six consecutive double figure scores in as many matches.

Bennell on his way to 34 (32) against Queensland in Round 7 of the tournament. Image: Chris Hyde.

His 250 tournament runs at an average of 41.67 was highlighted by an unbeaten 81* (63) against South Australia in Round 4, where the hard-hitting opener bludgeoned five boundaries and six sixes, leading Western Australia to a comfortable 62-run victory.

Women's Division Batting Award and Player of the Championships - Veronica Keen, Western Australia

Western Australia's women's captain performed similarly to her male counterpart throughout the tournament, with only one single-figure score (6 from 11 against the Northern Territory) across six matches.

Keen struck a tournament-high 234 runs at 58.50, top scoring with 82* (61) in Western Australia's 74-run Round 3 victory over Victoria.

Veronica Keen scored an unbeaten 82 (61) against Victoria in Round 3 of the Championships. Image: Chris Hyde

She also chipped in with the ball, taking two wickets across 16 overs at an economy of 4.6 runs per over.

Men's Division Bowling Award - Wade King, Victoria

The Victorian men's skipper had a tournament to remember with the ball, the medium pacer taking 18 wickets across seven matches at an average of just 5.06.

The allrounder from McKinnon Cricket Club took five multiple wicket hauls across the tournament, his best bowling coming in Victoria's playoff match against Western Australia where he took 6-12 from four overs.

King in action with the bat in Victoria's match against Western Australia. Image: Chris Hyde.

He bowled his full compliment of overs in all but one of Victoria's matches, maintaining an economy rate throughout the tournament of just 3.64 runs per over.

King also contributed 92 runs at 15.33 with the bat leading his side to finish fourth in the tournament.

Women's Division Bowling Award - Christina Coulson, Queensland

Batters found the spin of Coulson difficult to play on Alice Springs' traditionally spin-friendly wickets, with the Valley Districts Cricket Club off-spinner effecting 14 dismissals at an average of 4.21.

Coulson's best bowling came in Queensland's 48-run Round 1 victory over Western Australia, where she took 5-12 from 3.2 overs.

Keen was instrumental with the ball as part of Queensland's maiden NICC title. Image: Albert Perez.

She took multiple dismissals in all but one of Queensland's matches including four wickets in Queensland's Round 3 victory over New South Wales and three wickets in Round 5 against Victoria.

Coulson was also extremely economical across her 19 tournament overs, ending the Championships with an economy rate of just 3.07 runs per over.

Men's Division Fielding Award - Tyran Liddiard, New South Wales

The New South Wales captain was involved in 12 dismissals behind the stumps across seven tournament matches.

He took six stumpings, two catches and was involved in four run out dismissals all whilst not conceding a bye.

Liddiard is known for his flamboyant wicket celebrations behind the stumps. Image: Albert Perez.

The wicketkeeper-batter, who plies his trade for Penrith Cricket Club also scored 91 runs in the tournament, highlighted by 33 (22) in New South Wales' win over Tasmania in championship decider.

Fielding Award for the Women's Division - Natalie Smedley, Northern Territory

Smedley took three catches and effected two run outs in the field across six matches for the Northern Territory.

Smedley effected five dismissals in the field for the Northern Territory. Image: Chris Hyde.

The Claremont Cricket Club allrounder also scored 82 runs at 27.33 and took four wickets at 23, contributing to the Northern Territory finishing third on the NICC women's ladder.

Queensland's women's side and Western Australia's men's side took home the team awards, each receiving the Spirit of Cricket Award for their respective divisions.