Victoria claimed the women's National Indigenous Cricket Champions for the first time at the weekend.
Bolstered with professional talent, they lifted the trophy after a faultless run through the tournament in Mackay on Yuwibara Country.
Victoria posted 3-157 in Sunday's final — led by an unbeaten 42 (33) from WBBL and WNCL keeper-batter Emma Manix-Geeves — the total proving more than enough for the Vic's to overcome New South Wales and take home their inaugural piece of NICC silverware.
After posting the competitive total Victoria eventually claimed a comfortable 58-run victory after bowling NSW out for 99, with Ella Hayward and Annabelle Glossop both posting tidy figures of 3-18.
Former Sydney Swan Jaide Anthony (2-9) also chipped in with the ball.
It's Victoria's first title in almost 20 years of the women's division at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships, formerly a division of the Imparja Cup, the side rocketing into contention following a period of lean years.
The inclusion of Manix-Geeves, who returned for her first NICCs in more than half a decade — as well as Melbourne Stars and Victorian allrounder in Hayward — guided the side's success throughout their undefeated campaign.
At last year's tournament Victoria's sole win came over eventual droughtbreakers Western Australia.
It's the second straight year an inaugural winner has been crowned champions in the division, which has been historically dominated by NSW.
"(Victoria) have really struggled the last couple of years," Manix-Geeves told National Indigenous Times ahead of the final. "Credit to the girls for always showing up and coming back".
"We beat New South Wales (in the round robin stage) for the first time ever the other day. That was a really special moment, to see some of those girls that have been involved in this team for five to 10 years.
"It's nice to be playing some good cricket this year. In particular, for those girls that have gone through those hard tournaments.
"It would be really special to be able to get that (championship) for those girls that have potentially never even been in a grand final before, in any format. Hopefully we can go
one better."
NSW qualified for Sunday's final after successfully chasing WA's 6-140 in the preliminary final.
Queensland nabbed fourth spot in the placing final over South Australia, who showed grit throughout a testing campaign.
Led by Brock Larance, Western Australia claimed the men's title for the second time in three years to wrap the 2026 Championships later on Sunday.
After leaving its traditional home of Alice Springs in 2024, the tournament was held at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena, a soon-to-be Test venue, for the second time.
