Western Australia, PNG remain undefeated at National Indigenous Cricket Championships

Callan Morse
Callan Morse Published April 17, 2026 at 3.00pm (AWST)

Back-to-back victories on Thursday has seen Western Australia's men's side remain undefeated at this year's National Indigenous Cricket Championships.

Whadjuk/Ballardong batter Elijah Dare led WA to victory against New South Wales on Thursday morning with 50* (27), an innings which included five sixes.

His late-innings performance complimented earlier contributions from Dane Ugle (30 from 29) Bevan Bennell (27 from 27) and D'Arcy Short (24 from 28) to see WA post a competitive 4-161.

In response NSW, led by Lucas Sheedy (36 from 33) and Ethan Fitzpatrick (35 from 34) were bowled out for 136 in the 20th over.

Brock Larance, Short, Dane Ugle and his son, Elijah, each picked up two wickets.

Papua New Guinea's Sese Bau and Victoria's Damon Egan exchange uniforms. (Image: Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Later in the day WA were tested by Tasmania, eventually winning by six wickets in the final over of the match.

Tasmania posted 4-163 largely due to Josh Warmsley's 77* (59), with contributions also coming from Braydon DeVries (33 from 24) and Toby Hutton (21 from 18).

A 118 second wicket stand from Dane Ugle (75 from 58) and Short (57 from 39), set up the win for WA, the pair striking a collective 14 4s and five 6s.

Some late-order hitting from Larance (21* from 12) saw WA home with a ball to spare.

Tournament newcomers Papua New Guinea kept their undefeated record in tact with comfortable victories over South Australia and the Northern Territory on Thursday.

The Barramundis first chased down South Australia's 6-114 with seven wicket in hand.

Never in doubt following a 67-run opening stand between Sese Bau (52* from 43) and Tony Bra (40 from 15), the Barramundi's ended the match with more than seven overs remaining.

Later in the day PNG made light work of the Northern Territory, restricting the former tournament hosts to 4-108 before successfully chasing the total with eight wickets remaining.

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For PNG Hila Vare top scored with 64 (52), with fellow opener Patrick Non (33 from 48) also in the runs. South Australia's best came from opener Karl Newcombe, who scored 40* (53).

Victoria defeated the Northern Territory earlier in the day after Samuel Field (4/17) rans through there NT's top order.

Field's performance with the ball, as well as four tidy overs from opener Wade King (2/14), limited the Territory to 8-100 from their 20 overs.

Victoria lost two wickets in the successful chase, which was led by Kane Hawkins (50 from 39), Jhianh Baxter (22 from 15) and Declan Jackson (20* from 18).

Jackson Gillespie, son of former Australian international Jason, delivers for South Australia. (Image: Albert Perez/Cricket Australia)

Tasmania comfortably accounted for Queensland on Thursday in a reduced overs match, limiting the hosts to 6-68. Spinner Eli Sheehan (4/11) was Tasmania's best with the ball.

In response, Warmsley (27 from 19) and Jack Pearce (17 from 16) put on 45 for the first wicket, with Tasmania eventually home inside eight overs.

The final match saw Queensland (6/90) account for South Australia (9/88) by four wickets with more than four overs to spare.

The hosts were led by Jacob Turner (3/20) with the ball and Jamieson Allen (35 form 35) with the bat.

Fixtures continue on Saturday before a 1v2 final at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena on Sunday afternoon.

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.