Port Blair, Apr 12: Andaman Gladiator Cricket team has won Gladiators Premier League (T-10 Night Cricket Tournament) Season-I by defeating United Sporting Club (USC) in a thrilling final cricket match played under the lights on 9th April 2022 at K.V-I School Ground, Port Blair.
Andaman Gladiator won by 7 wickets by chasing a target of 53 runs in 6.5 overs only. A cash prize of ₹ 1 lakh was given to the winning team along with the winning trophy while the Runner-up team won ₹ 50,000 with the Runner’s-up trophy. Yashwant Rao of Andaman Gladiator was adjudged the Man of the Tournament winning a trophy with ₹ 20,000 cash prize. He was also conferred as the Best Bowler of the GPL-2022 as he took 17 wickets in 9 matches and won cash prize of ₹ 10,000/-, a trophy & Purple Cap. He was also the Man of the Match of the final match for his quick 14 runs of 7 balls and for picking up two crucial wickets. Shajamaul of ‘Jai Hind’ team clinched the trophy for the Best Batsman of this tournament by scoring 328 runs in 6 matches, winning a cash reward of ₹ 10,000/-, a trophy & Orange Cap.
Around 1000 spectators including 50 students of Kendriya Vidyalaya-I school witnessed the closing ceremony followed by the final match. The star studded closing ceremony consisting of cultural-cum-musical evening where dance troops from Dance Nritya Academy (DNA) & PET enthralled audience with their group dance on patriotic theme with the National Flag. Miss K. Kruthi, age 12 years, of Sagritara School graced the evening by performing the classical Bharatanatyam.
Mr. Parvinder Awana (fast bowler), former Indian Cricketer (India-England, 2012) and former player for Kings-X1 Punjab in the IPL, was the Chief Guest.
Mr. Parvinder Awana during his speech motivated the youth for devotion, dedication & hard work for any ambition adopted by them. He also appreciated the sports skills in the youth of these islands.
The tournament started on 22nd February 2022 at K.V-I School, Port Blair and a total of 45 teams (720 players) participated on league-cum-knockout basis in which 120 matches were played. For the first time in the A&N Islands, the entire tournament was covered digitally for live score updates through the ‘Stumps App’.
The objective of the tournament was to promote outdoor sports for health & fitness among the youth of the islands. Awareness messages on Cybercrime, Drug Abuse and Traffic Awareness were displayed with various banners around the ground throughout the tournament to sensitize youth.
Gladiators Premier League (GPL) Season-I have been a grand success. Public & Sportspersons in these islands appreciated the efforts of the organizing committee i.e., Gladiators Cricket Club for organizing such a grand tournament after 2 years of restrictions due to COVID-19.
