A batting masterclass from Brock Larance has guided Western Australia to its first National Indigenous Cricket Championships men's title since 2015.
The proud Biripi man registered his fourth half-century of the tournament in Tuesday's decider against New South Wales, compiling a match-winning 87 (38) to deny his former state an unprecedented fifth consecutive NICC crown.
Larance was devastating from the outset in Western Australia's successful chase of 6/151, dispatching NSW's attack for nine boundaries and six sixes to all parts of Mparntwe's Traeger Park.
The batting allrounder, who plies his trade for Willeton in WA's Premier Cricket competition, combined with former Melbourne star Clint Hinchliffe (26 from 30) in a 107-run opening wicket stand.
The partnership between Larance and Hinchliffe boasting a scoring rate of more than 10 runs per over approaching the halfway stage of the chase, however New South Wales fought back through Evan Pitt (1-12) and Brett Russell (1-30), who dismissed the pair in consecutive overs.
Yet despite the loss of both set batters, Western Australia's middle order prevailed, denying New South Wales the opportunity of a comeback victory with Jay Collard (13* from 20), Hugh Sando (12 from 11) and Koby Jackson (8* from 5) seeing Western Australia home with more than three overs remaining.
Lesley Smith (2-9) was the pick of an expensive New South Wales attack.
Earlier in the match, New South Wales set a competitive total of 6/151 set up by a 62-run partnership between openers Jack Hartigan (40 from 48) and Pat Rosser (36 from 25).
Hartigan anchored the New South Wales innings, combining with Blake Smith (25 from 24) after the loss of Rosser and Ethan Fitzpatrick (2 from 2), who fell cheaply to the left-arm leg spin of Hinchliffe (3-32), Western Australia's best with the ball.
New South Wales looked destined for a moderate total before Ben Patterson joined Hartigan, the Wiradjuri allrounder typically damaging with the bat, striking three boundaries and three sixes one the way to a gallant 40 (18).
Outside of Hinchliffe, the off-spin of Larance (1-36) collected Western Australia's only other wicket.
The pair were instrumental throughout the tournament for WA, with Larance finishing the form batter of the competition (361 runs at 51.57) and Hinchliffe (15 wickets at 7.73) the completion's leading wicket taker.
Earlier in the day, New South Wales defeated Queensland in the women's state and territory division largely due to Dharmini Chauhan, who scored 63 (51) of her side's 7-122 before New South Wales restricted Queensland to 9/97 in response.
