The European Cricket League 2025 (ECL25) delivered four weeks of thrilling action, with 35 teams battling for the ultimate prize. After rain-affected rounds, intense matchups, and historic moments, it was Farmers from Jersey who emerged victorious, defeating Roma CC in the final to claim their first-ever ECL title.
Roma CC, having chased down a mammoth total in Qualifier 2 thanks to Milinda Siriwardana’s century, opted to bowl first in the final after winning the toss. However, Farmers, knowing the importance of a big total, set a competitive 146 runs on the board. Roma CC’s chase never gained momentum, losing early wickets, including their star batter Siriwardana. Eventually, they fell 42 runs short, as Farmers became the fifth team in five seasons to lift the prestigious ECL trophy.
ECL25 was plagued by rain, forcing significant adjustments to the tournament format. Group E was completely washed out, leading to the introduction of the Power Over Tiebreaker—a first in ECL history. Several matches, including all Championship Week league games, were reduced to a five-over format, much to the delight of fans who enjoyed the fast-paced action.
Despite the challenges, the Championship Week was fiercely contested, with six out of seven teams registering multiple wins. It all came down to the final match, with six teams still in contention for the top four spots.
Defending champions Hornchurch endured a shocking campaign, going winless in Championship Week. Their title defense was severely impacted by the absence of Mohammad Irfan, who had played a key role in their 2024 triumph. Despite bringing in England XI’s skipper Dan Lincoln, as a wild card, they couldn't replicate their past success.
Wildcards made a massive impact across the tournament, with six of the seven teams utilizing their two spots to bring in top-class international talent. Former Test cricketers like Milinda Siriwardana (Sri Lanka) and Carl Mumba (Zimbabwe) debuted for Roma CC and Voorburg respectively. Netherlands international Vikramjit Singh and Shariz Ahmad represented Skanderborg and Zurich Nomads, respectively. Both teams performed impressively, securing third and fourth place finishes.
ECL25 saw incredible individual performances, with Zurich Nomads’ Faheem Nazir finishing as the top scorer with 383 runs and Farmers’ William Perchard leading the wicket charts with 14 wickets scalps. Farmers' Julius Sumerauer was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, contributing 333 runs and 9 wickets to lead his team to victory. He played an instrumental role in Farmers’ historic triumph.
Despite weather challenges, ECL25 delivered high-octane cricket, thrilling matches, and unforgettable moments. The tournament's competitiveness continues to grow, proving that European cricket is on the rise.
A huge thank you to our sponsors and partners – Dream11, HCL Software, Rado, Microlino, Victorinox, Junta de Andalucia, and Cricket Spain. Their contributions were instrumental in making the event a success.
