A final ball thriller has secured Tasmania a maiden berth in the NICC Final whilst New South Wales remained undefeated and Western Australia won its fourth consecutive match at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships.
Tasmania (9-105) defeated Victoria (7-101) by 1 wicket
Tail-end heroics from Ben Spinks has guided Tasmania to a last ball victory in their National Indigenous Cricket Championships Round 7 contest against Victoria.
Requiring seven runs for victory leading into the final over of the match, Spinks (13* from 13) partnered with brother Zak Spinks (2* from 2) to score nine runs from the final four balls of the 20th over.
The win prompted scenes of jubilation amongst the Tasmanian team, who have never contested a National Indigenous Cricket Championships Final, having last played in the tournament's final under the Imparja Cup banner in 2009.
Earlier in the match Victoria posted 7-101 with Josh Nanson top scoring, however the middle order batter found little support with opener Jhiah Baxter (12 from 11) and Bailey Toseland (12 from 15) the only batters to reach double figures.
Tasmania's bowlers were economical across the board with Lachlan Nicholls (2-19 from four), Ben Spinks (1-20 from four) and Rhys French (1-22 from four) each picking up wickets.
French was also instrumental in the field for Tasmania, effecting run outs to dismiss key Victorian batters of Baxter and the high-scoring Josh Nanson (36 from 41), two of five Victorian batters dismissed run out.
The match was in the balance partway through the chase with Tasmania sitting at 4-43 when French (22 from 25) joined captain Aaron Tuxworth (21 from 40) at the crease.
The pair put on 32 for the fifth wicket and with victory looming, Tasmania lost 5-21, swinging the match back in Victoria's favour.
Three wickets from Victorian captain Wade King (3-15 from four) and two wickets each from Bodie Toseland (2-13 from four), Ryan Donovan (2-20 from four) and Nathan Gardiner (2-31 from four) left Tasmania with a single wicket in hand three runs required from four balls.
However Spinks brought up the winning runs in style for Tasmania, striking a six over mid-wicket on the final ball of the match.
New South Wales (3-70) defeated Northern Territory (8-67) by 7 wickets
New South Wales rendered the Northern Territory's campaign winless, comfortably defeating the home side by seven wickets Traeger Park.
It took New South Wales just 12.3 overs to chase down the Territory's 8-67, with Aaron Muir (21 from 32) top scoring and veteran New South Wales opener Damian Duroux scoring 18 (22).
Ethan Fitzpatrick (2-6 from two) and Tyreece Ryan (1-15 from 4) took wickets for the Territory.
Shane Buttfield (20 from 26) top scored for the Territory, with Fitzpatrick (19 from 17) the only other batter to manage double figures.
Leslie Smith (2-8 from three) was the pick of New South Wales' bowlers.
Western Australia (10-110) defeated Queensland (9-87) by 23 runs
In the final match of the round, Western Australia successfully defended its 110 all out against Queensland.
Michael Bailey (3-11 from four) and Craig Jones (3-21 from four) took three wickets each, with Tyran Eggmolesse and Cameron Moodie joint-top scoring with 24.
Western Australian captain Bevan Bennell (34 from 32) continued his strong run of form with the bat, however it was Nic Taylor (51 from 48) who top scored for WA.
Kieran Gibbs (3-29 from four) and Jamieson Allen (3-10 from three) were the best with the ball for Queensland.
Western Australia's win saw them draw level with Tasmania on eight points on the NICC ladder, however Tasmania's superior net run rate saw them advance to the tournament's deciding match.
They will meet the undefeated New South Wales in the tournament's final, which will be played at Traeger Park at 6:30pm ACST today.
