A spectacular display of ball striking from Brock Larance has led Western Australia to victory at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships.
An unbeaten knock and two wickets from Biripi allrounder saw WA comfortably account for Victoria at Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena on Sunday.
Opening the batting, Larance blasted 12 boundaries — including seven 6s — on the way to an unbeaten 83 (50) in WA's successful pursuit of of Victoria's modest 9-122.
The performance was the 24-year-old's second title-clinching performance in three years after he guided WA to victory against New South Wales two years ago.
After WA lost former Australian international D'Arcy Short (11 from 6) and the hard-hitting Dane Ugle (1 from 3) early, Larance partnered with Kalgoorlie batter Bevan Bennell (22 from 26), the pair steadying the chase in a 82-run third wicket stand.
Despite losing Elijah Dare and Dekan John-Furnace — both without scoring — late in the chase, Larance kept his cool, striking two maximums from the 16th over to see Western Australia home with five wickets and 23 balls to spare.
Seamer Wade King (2-10) and spinner Bailey Toseland (2-13) were Victoria's best with the ball.
Earlier in the match Western Australia restricted Victoria to 9-122 largely due to tight spells from Larance (2-20) and Short (2-13).
Victoria started their innings strongly through a 59-run opening stand between former Australian Indigenous XI representative Damon Egan (36 from 27) and Kane Hawkins (25 from 23).
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Their partnership, however, would be Victoria's largest, with no pairing surpassing 20 for the reminder of the innings.
A string of teen-high contributions from King (19 from 21), Declan Jackson (15 from 20), and Jhiah Baxter (13 from 8), saw Victoria set WA little more than a run a ball for victory.
In the women's final earlier in the day Victoria tasted success for the first time, victors over longtime tournament heavyweights New South Wales.
Victoria posted 3-157, highlighted by Emma Manix-Geeves' (42* from 33), before bowling New South Wales out for 99 in the 19th over of the chase.
Western Australia's win marks their fifth combined Imparja Cup and National Indigenous Cricket Championships men's state and territory division title.
