NICL 2018 – Finals Preview

It’s finals week in the NICL Victoria leagues, with the Men’s and Women’s teams battling it out to be State Divisional Club Champions and book their trip to Adelaide next month to take on the best of the rest in the NICL finals series.

Be sure to tune in to the Women’s final on the Cricket Australia Indoor Facebook Livestream from 6:00pm on Sunday.

NICL East Men’s

Croydon Raiders vs Bobo’s Diner Sharks, Friday 10 August, Croydon Indoor Sports

Croydon Raiders are favourites to win their second straight NICL title and head to the finals series when they host Bobo’s Diner Sharks at Croydon Indoor Sports tonight.

As Victoria is not the host state this year, only the winner of the grand final will play in the finals series, compared to last year when both teams played in the main draw.

Head to Head – Current season results:

May 2018 – Raiders 83 (3) def. Sharks 17 (1) at Croydon Indoor Sports (Livestream)

June 2018 – Sharks 107 (2) tied with Raiders 107 (2) at Springvale Indoor Sports

July 2018 – Raiders 107 (3) def. Sharks 69 (1) at Croydon Indoor Sports

 

NICL West Men’s

Major Semi-Final: Northcote Knights vs Melton Falcons, Friday 10 August, North Geelong Action Indoor Sports

Preliminary Semi-Final: Loser of 1^st vs 2^nd vs Winner of Minor Semi-Final, Sunday 12 August, Hoppers Crossing Indoor Sports (Cricket Australia Indoor Facebook Livestream)

It’s been a long season in the West division, with a three-stage round-robin including seven teams in the grade meaning eighteen games for each team starting back in May. But there have been two constants at the top of the ladder all season, and it is only fitting that the Knights and Falcons play off for a spot in the grand final next week.

Head to head – Current season results:

April 2018 – Falcons 52 (1) lost to Knights 72 (3) at Melton Indoor Sports

June 2018 – Knights 73 (3) def. Falcons 61 (1) at Northcote Indoor Sports

July 2018 – Falcons 86 (4) def. Knights 28 (0) at Melton Indoor Sports

 

NICL East Women’s

Monash Tigers vs Cranbourne Kings, Sunday 12 August, Hoppers Crossing Indoor Sports (Cricket Australia Indoor Facebook Livestream)

In the Women’s final, the Monash Tigers will also be favourites in their clash against the Cranbourne Kings this Sunday evening at Hoppers Crossing Indoor Sports. The Kings booked their place in the final after surprising the Springvale Seahawks in the preliminary final at Northcote last Saturday. They prevailed by 79 (1) – 76 (3) in a tight three-run win despite only having seven players.

Head to Head – Current season results:

May 2018 – Kings 79 (3) lost to Tigers 106 (1) at Croydon Indoor Sports

May 2018 – Tigers 132 (4) def. Kings 68 (0) at Springvale Indoor Sports

June 2018 – Kings 74 (1) lost to Tigers 143 (3) at Cranbourne Indoor Sports

 

NICL West Women’s

Croydon Raiders vs Cranbourne Kings, Sunday 12 August, Hoppers Crossing Indoor Sports

Top qualifier Croydon Raiders will play off against last year’s NICL champions Cranbourne Kings this Sunday night at Hoppers Crossing Indoor Sports, with the winner booking their place in the NICL finals series in Adelaide next month.

The Raiders have been the form side of the competition, notching up six wins from their eight matches, and have just dropped one game, to their grand final opponents. Meanwhile, the Kings have maintained a hold on second position, comfortably defeating the EMP Bombers in the major semi-final last week by 48 runs to set up the grand final showdown. They are the second Kings side in a Women’s final, with their counterparts also making the Women’s East division grand final.

Head to head – Current season games:

May 2018 – Raiders 103 (3) def. Kings 59 (1) at Northcote Indoor Sports

July 2018 – Raiders 99 (1) lost to Kings 120 (3) at Cranbourne Indoor Sports