Gunnedah cricketer Julian Hockings claimed three wickets and scored the winning run in NSW’s final game in one of the divisions at this year’s National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC).

Hockings played in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing men’s division, while other divisions at the NCIC were Deaf and Hard of Hearing (women’s teams), Blind and Low Vision (mixed and women’s teams), and Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability (mixed teams).

With the fixtures played at Marchant Park in south-east Queensland from January 19 to 24, the NSW Deaf and Hard of Hearing men’s team placed fourth out of five teams.

From a squad of 14, Hockings had limited opportunities before finishing in fine style.

The Gunnedah cricketer didn’t play in NSW’s first two games, as the Blues beat South Australia by five runs before losing to Queensland by six runs.

Hockings lined up against Victoria, but didn’t bat or bowl in a nine-wicket victory before he had a brief stint with the bat against Western Australia.

Hockings scored one not out in NSW’s total of 4-169 in 20 overs, before Western Australia coasted to an eight-wicket win.

NSW again faced Western Australia in an elimination final, but Hockings wasn’t selected as Western Australia recorded a four-run victory.

Back in the team for the placing final, Hockings played a major role as NSW enjoyed a tense one-wicket triumph against South Australia.

Hockings held a catch as South Australia fell to 3-13 after 4.1 overs, before he claimed three wickets for 23 runs in his 3.5 overs.

All three of his victims were bowled, with his first dismissal leaving South Australia 6-21 in the seventh over before his next wicket made the score 8-41 in the 11th over.

A last-wicket stand of 31 took South Australia’s total to 81 before Hockings ended the innings with one ball to spare in the allotted 20 overs.

A 32-run opening partnership unfolded in the run chase, but a stunning collapse left NSW 8-68 as Hockings strolled to the crease with the bat in his hands.

After Hockings survived the first two balls he faced, another wicket left the last pair needing a 13-run partnership for victory.

Hockings scored two runs from the final ball of the 14th over to bring the score to 9-73, meaning nine more runs were needed.

The Gunnedah cricketer managed a single in the 15th over which contained seven runs, before Hockings faced a wide which brought the scores level.

From the next ball, Hockings hit the winning single to finish with four not out.

Julian Hockings, pictured playing for Gunnedah’s third graders earlier this season, helped his team to a tense one-wicket win at the recent NCIC.

To order photos from this page click here