Victoria claims back-to-back titles

While they had some close games that went down to the last ball, the 15-and-unders went through the week undefeated.

In the finals, the team showed their class always looking like winners with bat, ball, and in the field.

After chasing down 93 comfortably and disposing of Western Australia in the Major Semi Final, the Victorians took on South Australia on in the Grand Final.

Winning the toss and batting first, the Victorians made 105 with Dan Scholz and Hugo Ferdinand the dominant pair adding 41 for the third pairing.

In response, South Australia batted calmly and were in a winning position needing just 26 from the last pair.

However, the experience and skill of Ferdinand, Scholz, Sashin Garber and skipper Ryan Peter-Budge was too much for the South Australians.

Taking wickets regularly, the Victorians dominated the last pair and won by 26 runs.

Peter-Budge was named Player of the Tournament and in the Australian World Cup squad, as were Ferdinand, Garber, and Scholz with Callan Gilboy selected in the Australia A side.

The 13-and-under boys have now won the last three national titles.

Losing their first match to Queensland, in a nervous performance at the start of the tournament, the Victorians were not beaten again throughout the week.

Facing Queensland in the Major Semi Final and Grand Final, the Victorians would go on to win both games comfortably, batting first in the Semi and chasing in the Grand Final.

Amazingly, all starting eight players made either the Australian World Cup squad (Jake Fraser-McGurk, Connor Phillips, Dev Jhamb, Kevin Seth, Ben Lammardo) or the Australia A squad (Jordan Hesline, Reilly Mark, Tahj Johnston).

Highlights of the week included the batting pair of Tahj Johnston and Ben Lammardo, the pace and accuracy of Kevin Seth, the spin of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Dev Jhamb, Jordan Hesline, and Reilly Mark.

The wicket-keeping of Connor Phillips was also a standout and he was in the game regularly with four spinners dominating, particularly in the finals.

Meanwhile, the 17-and-under girls had an excellent week, losing just one match to finish on top of the table.

Unfortunately, the girls went out in straight sets losing to Queensland and New South Wales Cyclones in their finals matches.

Selected in the Australian World Cup squad were Emma Medland and Zoe Griffiths, who was named aslo named Player of the Tournament, while Eloise Gardner, Maddie Wright, Isabelle Weber earnt selection in the Australia A squad.

The Junior Indoor Cricket World Cup will be held in Brisbane beginning late September.