The 2021 Imparja Cup was a true celebration of cricket, culture and community with the week-long celebration and games wrapping up on Friday 18 February.

Thirty six teams from around Australia arrived in Alice Springs for a week of cricket played in three different tournaments. This included men’s and women’s (Imparja Cup) competitions and the youth (Schools Cup) competitions..

The Yeperenye Shopping Centre Major Centres Grand Final was held at Traeger Park. The T20* match was between the Central Hurricanes (Alice Springs) and Top End Thunder (Darwin).

Top End Thunder won the toss and elected to bat but were only able to score 65 runs.

Looking like an easy chase, the Hurricanes went into bat but lost 3 wickets in 10 deliveries. In the end, the Hurricanes chased down the total in 12.4 overs, notwithstanding the Thunders’ gallant effort taking six wickets during the innings.

The Kalano Crocs (Katherine) and Brothers In Arms (Alice Springs) faced off in the DXC Technology Men’s Community Grand Final (Super 8**) at Flynn Drive in hot Alice Springs conditions at Flynn Drive Oval.

The Brothers In Arms made 139 after their 14 overs, which the Kalano Crocs were able to chase down in the last over.

Ladeez (Alice Springs) won the Statewide Super Women’s Community Division competition. (Photo courtesy of NT Cricket)

The Statewide Super Women’s Community Division (Super 8) was played between the Central Desert Team (Laramba) and Ladeez team (Alice Springs). Central Desert batted first to make a total of 87. However, consistent batting from the Ladeez team with four of the six batters making double figures saw them take out the title.

The Ladeez team celebration spoke to how special the Imparja Cup is for the women and are assured they will be back to defend their title next year.

Individual awards went to:

• Brothers In Arm’s Barry Cooke - arcus Rosas Community Men’s Spirit of Cricket award and the Community Men’s MVP
• Tennant Creek’s Sylvania Shannon - Jenny Crocker Community Women’s Spirit of Cricket award
• Andrew Kelly from Top End Thunder - Yeperenye Shopping Centre Major Centre’s Spirit of Cricket award
• St Joseph’s Suns student Trevorn Doolan - Rossy Williams Junior Spirit of Cricket Award
• Matthew Green from Central Hurricanes - Rossy Williams
• Shane Franey - Major Centres MVP award
• Irena Edwards-Kelly from Tennant Creek - Community Women’s MVP award.

NT Cricket CEO Joel Morrison said it was a fantastic week of celebrating cricket and culture.

‘A big thank you to the NT Government for their ongoing support of this event; without it the event wouldn’t be possible,’ he said.

‘Building on the wonderful celebration of cricket and culture in the Red Centre, unquestionably the home of Indigenous cricket in Australia, we look forward to the 29th Imparja Cup in 2022.’

*Each team bats for 20 overs.

**Team is made up of 8 players only.