From Our Correspondent
Tura, May 6: Curtains came down on the biggest edition of the Late PA Sangma Memorial (PASM) day-night tennis ball cricket tournament in Tura with ABZO XI winning a pulsating final that encapsulated 15 days of cricket frenzy.
The grand finale featured a high-octane match between ABZO XI and Selsella Jarambong Sports Association. Batting first, ABZO XI posted an impressive 108 runs in 10 overs. In response, Selsella Jarambong Sports Association put up a valiant chase but fell short by just 7 runs, finishing at 101 in 10 overs. ABZO XI were crowned champions in a nail-biting finish.
The tournament was held between April 22 to May 5 and saw 99 teams vie for a chance to win the biggest and most prestigious T-10 tennis ball tournament in the Garo Hills region. The entire tournament was held at the Police Parade Ground in Tura.
While the entire tournament saw huge crowds on all days, final day was packed to the rafters with people jostling for space to get the best view of proceeding. The finals, along with the semis were aired live on certain channels, showcasing how much the tournament was being followed across the region and beyond.
The finals saw the presence of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who was the chief guest along with many of his colleagues who joined the crowd in cheering for their favourite teams.
The 3rd edition of the tournament saw a huge number of firsts. It introduced Power Play, Third Umpire, and Review System for the first time at the grassroots level. There was also live coverage, digital scoring, and video replay mechanisms to ensure transparency and excitement.
A total of over Rs 4 lakhs was distributed as prizes with the final seeing cultural performances, including a dance by Pèchon Memorial School students and a live musical performance by NOGA.
