An ‘Every Game Matters' format created last ball dramas and super overs.

The third annual tournament held at Emirates Old Trafford was adapted after consultation with the tapeball cricket community and included 18 action packed games.

Now in its third year, the tournament took place at Emirates Old Trafford and was shaped in collaboration with the local Tapeball Cricket Community. A total of 18 matches were played across two weeks, bringing together passion, skill, and community spirit.

This year’s group stage rankings determined which of the three Finals Nights each team would compete in, ensuring that every match carried weight. Teams played 40-minute, seven-a-side tapeball games, using a scoring system designed to reward sharp hitting and batting strategy. The format saw teams averaging over 50 runs in just five overs, with several matches needing Super Overs to decide the winner.

For the second weeks of the tournament each team returned to play for the Ramadan Plate, Trophy and Cup – depending on where they had finished in the groups. This format, which players believed would eliminate games without meaning, led to three packed out finals nights in the Indoor Centre.

Supported by the ECB, the tournament highlighted the growing popularity and grassroots strength of tapeball cricket in the North West. Nine teams from Manchester, Rochdale, and Oldham took part: Chadderton CC, NBCA (North Bangladeshi Cricket Association), Oldham Strikers, Rochdale Fusion, Ashton Tigers, Manchester Stallions, Cheetham Hill, Chadderton Strikers, and Manchester Titans. Team captains also used the opportunity to network and plan future tapeball events.

The Ramadan Cup is designed with the Holy Month in mind, providing a unique platform for Muslim players who fast during daylight hours. Despite the physical and spiritual demands, players broke their fasts, offered prayers, and then took to the pitch under the lights from 10pm to midnight.

Matches were scored using the ECB’s Play Cricket Scoring App and livestreamed, allowing interest to grow rapidly as the tournament progressed.

Arsalan Khalid, Urban Cricket Development Officer, praised the format:

“The new structure meant every match had something on the line—so many games went right down to the final ball! The players loved coming together during Ramadan, and the competition brought out a real sense of pride and intensity. Tapeball is hugely popular in our communities, and hosting this at Emirates Old Trafford meant a lot to everyone involved.”

Meanwhile, in Blackburn, the LCF Tapeball League also wrapped up with thrilling Finals Nights at Blackburn Central High School. The winning teams from there will advance to the National Finals this summer.