Irfan Pathan-Owned Ghent Gladiators Clinch Inaugural EUT20 Belgium Title
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ghent Gladiators, co-owned by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, won the inaugural EUT20 Belgium cricket title.
- They defeated Antwerp Anchors by three wickets in a close final, chasing down 178 runs with one ball remaining.
- Ali Khan was named Player of the Match, and JJ Smit of Antwerp Anchors was Player of the Tournament.
The Ghent Gladiators have been crowned champions of the inaugural EUT20 Belgium cricket tournament, securing a dramatic three-wicket victory over Antwerp Anchors in a thrilling final. The franchise, co-owned by former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, successfully chased down a competitive target of 179 runs, reaching 179/7 in 19.5 overs to clinch the title with just one ball to spare.
Antwerp Anchors had set a challenging total of 178/20 after being put in to bat first. The final proved to be an exciting contest between two of the tournament's strongest teams. The Gladiators, led by South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, demonstrated resilience under pressure to complete the tense chase and etch their names in history as the first champions of the competition.
Individual accolades were also awarded following the conclusion of the tournament. Ali Khan of the Ghent Gladiators received the Player of the Match award for his pivotal performance in the final. Meanwhile, Antwerp Anchors' all-rounder JJ Smit was recognized as the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding contributions throughout the competition.
Originally published by Gulf Today in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.