On Sunday, June 23rd, Waltham 11 beat the Lowell Rockers to claim the championship trophy  of the 11th Annual VPS Cricket Tournament.  The tournament was held at the Joy Hanlon Grounds in Quincy MA and attended by numerous enthusiastic spectators and patrons. The Joy Hanlon grounds that overlook the backwaters of Quincy was festive with the weekend family-friendly event.

It was the 5th trophy for the Waltham 11 on a hot, humid day. The tournament marks another successful event organized by the Vrindavana Preservation Society(VPS) , a South shore non-profit organization dedicated to promoting unity and peace in the South Asian Community.

24 teams from all over the New England area participated in the two-weekend event.  The games were coordinated in three areas, one in the Joy Hanlon grounds and two others in the Fore River club in Quincy.

In addition to the matches, the volunteers of VPS also organized a children’s cricket game.  Complementary lunches and refreshments, provided by Indian Restaurants in the area were handed to all those present.

Volunteers provided commentary during the games and music was played during the breaks.  Cricket, originally a British game that found its way to India during the years of the Raj, is a popular game in most commonwealth countries. In recent years, it continues to grow in popularity around the globe and even in the United States. The VPS Cricket tournament , that was instituted in 2003, has gained popularity and is considered the most prestigious in the New England Area. Christopher Cassini, Executive director of  the Quincy Parks and Forestry department, attended the event and handed trophies to some of the best performers in the tournament.

Special Kudos must be given to Nikhil Wadhwa, the chairperson of the VPS Cricket Tournament, Keshav Shukla, the president of VPS and Chetan Anand, the main umpire of the tournament. This tournament also owes its success to the tireless volunteers who helped by coordinating matches, keeping scores, serving meals, and in the clean-up efforts after the tournament.

For more information on the activities of the Vrindavana Preservation Society and its annual Cricket Tournament, please visit  www.vps-international.org.

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