By Kate Withers
CRICKET
The Gippsland Asian Cricket Festival wrapped at the weekend with Sri Lanka emerging champions and raising the cup after a grand final win over India.
Hosted by Gippsland Australian Muslim Community Inc, this year’s festival was played across two weekends between four teams – India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan – and almost 150 people turned out for the festival day on Sunday.
Sri Lanka hit their way into a commanding position after notching 6/207 from 20 overs, setting India a target run rate of 10.4 per over which proved too great.
“Sri Lanka smashed 207 and it was looking like a one-sided game, but India replied a bit and it was really a great game to watch,” event organiser Obaid Mustafa said.
Rain may have washed out play across the Latrobe Valley’s major cricket leagues but participants at the second annual Gippsland Asian Cricket Festival pushed through.
“It was a very tense moment after everyone on Saturday called [cricket] off, so we moved to the hard wicket and still got through all the matches,” Mustafa said.
“It was a really good day, we had food stalls and a food truck, face painting and a jumping castle and there was lots for kids to do.”
The Melbourne Stars’ very own Starman and Cricket Victoria were also on hand and member for Morwell Russell Northe presented the champions’ trophy to Sri Lanka as well as a number of other awards.
“It was bigger this time around and hopefully it can be even bigger and better next year,” Mustafa said.
