The Dream11 European Cricket Championship (ECC) Premier 2024 has concluded with England XI lifting their third ECC title in four years, becoming the first team in tournament history to win back-to-back championships. In a thrilling final against Netherlands XI, held at the Cartama Oval, England XI displayed class and resilience to emerge victorious by 14 runs, sealing their dominance in European cricket.
The ECC24 was a unique edition, as it introduced a two-division format to enhance the competitiveness of the tournament. Teams were split into Challenger Division and Premier Division based on their rankings from the previous year. The Premier Division kicked off on 3rd October, with 20 of Europe’s top cricketing nations battling it out for a place in Championship Week.
Scotland XI won Group A, Germany claimed Group B, Spain triumphed in Group C, and Netherlands XI topped Group D. These teams joined England XI, the reigning champions, who automatically qualified for Championship Week. However, the week didn't get off to a smooth start as rain played a significant role during the first two days, leading to the abandonment of five games. Once the skies cleared, the competition heated up, and we witnessed high-octane matches among Europe's best cricketing nations.
Championship Week was tightly contested, with the top four teams only being confirmed after the last league match. Scotland XI needed a win to secure their spot, which they did, setting up a Finals Day showdown. In the Eliminator, Scotland XI took on Germany, emerging victorious in a nail-biting encounter to move into the second qualifier.
The first Qualifier saw England XI face Netherlands XI, where the Englishmen showed their class by securing a win and booking their place in the final. Netherlands XI, determined not to give up, comfortably beat Scotland XI in the second Qualifier to earn their spot in the final for the third consecutive year. This set up another thrilling England vs Netherlands showdown, with each team having one win in their previous two finals.
In the final, England XI won the toss and elected to bat, putting up an imposing score of 159/3 in 10 overs, largely thanks to Johnny Connell's spectacular knock of 89.In reply, Netherlands XI got off to a shaky start, losing two early wickets. However, Musa Ahmad and Shariz Ahmad steadied the ship with a solid partnership, keeping the Dutch in the game. Despite their efforts, regular wickets fell, and England XI eventually clinched the title with a 14-run victory.
Beyond the high-octane cricket, the tournament was filled with standout individual performances. Shariz Ahmad of Netherlands XI was named MVP of the tournament for his consistent and impactful displays with both bat and ball. Team Norway took home the HCL Software Fair Play Award, recognizing their exceptional sportsmanship throughout the competition. Andrew Wright, ICC Development Manager Europe, collected the award on their behalf.
Across both the Premier and Challenger Divisions, the statistics were staggering. A total of 31,304 runs were scored, 1139 wickets were taken, 1800 fours, and a stunning 2963 sixes were smashed, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
In other key developments, Greece, having triumphed in the Challenger Division, will move up to the Premier Division next year, while Malta and Guernsey will be relegated to the Challenger Division for the 2025 edition.
The Dream11 ECC Premier 2024 has been a resounding success, showcasing the very best of European cricket. With England XI cementing their legacy as the premier team in the competition and the tournament’s new structure boosting competitiveness, excitement for next year’s edition is already building.
