European Cricket’s Tour of Portugal has come to a close, and what a tour it was! Over three weeks, the Santarém Cricket Ground played host to six high-octane events — two ECS tournaments, two ECI series, and two T20I series — showcasing the growth of cricket in Portugal and beyond.

The ECS action kicked off with the ECS Portugal, Challenger, where Lisbon Super Giants emerged champions, defeating Brothers XI Portugal in the final. Star batter Ashok Kumar Banger stole the show, racking up 390 runs including a century and bagging 6 wickets on his way to being named MVP.

In the ECS Portugal, Premier, seasoned giants Malo topped the table and were crowned champions after finals day was unfortunately washed out due to rain. This marked Malo’s seventh ECS title in Portugal. All-rounder Amandeep Singh was named MVP for his consistent contributions throughout the competition.

The excitement rolled into the international leg with the ECIs where history was made as both Portugal and Norway’s women’s teams made their ECN debuts. Remarkably, it was also the first time Portugal women’s national team played official cricket. Led by former England Test player Sarah Foo-Ryland and also featuring ex-South African star Cri Zelda Brits, the squad brought elite experience to the pitch. They swept Norway 4-0, with one game washed out. In the men’s ECIs, Norway edged past Portugal 3-1, with one match abandoned. Cri Zelda Brits and Usman Arif earned MVP honours for the women’s and men’s series, respectively.

In the T20Is, Portugal women's defeated Norway 2-1 in a gripping three-match series while Portugal men's side turned the tables on Norway, winning 2-1 in another thrilling showdown that brought the tour to a fitting close.

The ECN Tour of Portugal not only showcased emerging domestic talent but also marked significant milestones in international cricket for both men and women. With packed fixtures, rising stars, and historic debuts, Santarém proved to be the perfect stage for this unforgettable cricket carnival.