Tura, Sept 20: East Garo Hills District Executive Force (DEF) emerged champions of the Meghalaya Police Western Range T20 Cricket Tournament 2026 after defeating the 2nd Meghalaya Police (MLP) Battalion, Goeragre, by 26 runs in the final at the BCCI-affiliated Alotgre Cricket Ground in Tura on Saturday.
Batting first, East Garo Hills DEF posted 139 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The 2nd MLP Battalion struggled to maintain the required scoring rate against a disciplined bowling attack and finished on 113 for five in 20 overs, handing EGH DEF the championship trophy. The Goeragre-based unit finished as runners-up.
The six-day tournament, organised by the Office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Western Range, in collaboration with the Tura District Cricket Association (TDCA), began on September 14 and featured eight teams. The competition was open to police personnel and included teams representing the five Western Range districts, one team from the 2nd MLP Battalion and three teams from West Garo Hills.
Besides determining the Western Range champion, the tournament also served as a talent-identification platform for the Meghalaya Police. Selection officials are expected to assess individual performances during the competition as they look to identify players for the department’s representative team.
The Western Range champions will next face the winners of the Eastern Range tournament. Following the regional competitions, a 14-member squad will be selected to represent Meghalaya at the All India Police Cricket Tournament, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad in December.
The closing ceremony was attended by DIG Western Range J. F. K. Marak, Tura District Cricket Association president D. D. Shira, former Director of Sports and Youth Affairs J. P. Marak, West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Abraham T. Sangma and SP (Traffic) Rupam R Marak, along with retired IAS and MCS officers and other range SPs.
Following the successful completion of the inaugural tournament, organisers also indicated plans to make the Western Range T20 Cricket Tournament an annual event on the Meghalaya Police calendar.
