The NSW Blind and Low Vision Mixed team has continued its dominance of the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC), winning its seventh straight title at the 2026 edition in Perth.
Title triumph caps strong NCIC Campaign
The Blind and Low Vision Mixed team was one of four entered by NSW at the NCIC tournament, alongside the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Men’s, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women’s and Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability (ID) sides. The participation of each side in the tournament was made possible by the support of the Cricket NSW Foundation.
Batting first in the final against South Australia, the NSW Blind and Low Vision Mixed team set a mammoth 2/332 off their 20 overs thanks to amazing knock of 141 off 44 balls by Steffan Nero. He was well supported by Matthew Cameron (74), Stephen Palmer (43no) and Lincoln Muddle (36). The total proved too much for South Australia as they finished their innings at 2/257.
Nero and Cameron were NSW’s leading batters through the tournament with 349 and 315 runs respectively while captain Lindsay Heaven was the division’s leading bowler with nine wickets.
The Men’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing team also enjoyed a successful week in Perth, finishing as runners up after going down to Western Australia in the Final. Bating first, NSW set a competitive 6/194 off their 20 overs thank to a brilliant innings of 92 off 47 balls by Muhammad Faizan Khan. In reply, Western Australia chased down the total with eight balls to spare to claim the title.
Faizan Khan was NSW’s leading batter throughout the tournament, finishing second in the overall run scorers with 261 runs, while Lewis Beard was our best with the ball finishing with 7 wickets.
In the Women’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing division, NSW was unable to secure a win in their four matches despite several valiant team efforts. Heather Mertin was the leading batter with 80 runs, fourth overall for the tournament, while Naomi Hayman finished fifth in the leading wicket takers with five wickets.
In the Intellectual Disability (ID) Division, NSW finished in fifth position as Tasmania claimed the title. NSW’s leading batter was Nat Young with 127 runs, including a highest score of 48 against Tasmania, while the leading bowlers were Chris Aslin and Simon Schofield who each took six wickets during the championships.
Cricket NSW thanks the coaches and support staff of all four NCIC squads for their tireless commitment to ensuring all players received the opportunity to experience the championships, and the Cricket NSW Foundation for its ongoing support of the sides.
Full results can be found here.