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Team Preview for Lemar CC Oberursel

Lemar CC Oberursel lost their first two group matches on Wednesday and were very slow to adjust to the T10 format, particularly with the bat. They do have a 6-3 winning record in the state T20 competition this season so they can play, they just need to learn to play the ECS way – and fast!

Captain: Sher Hask

Main Wicketkeeper: Alif Gul

Key Players:

Momand Rahamatullah is a very versatile player. He is a competent wicketkeeper but can come out and bowl some of his slingers to provide a boost to their bowling attack. He opens the batting and found some form with 33 not out in the second match after he was disastrously run out in their opening fixture.

Sher Yasin was Lemar’s only batsman to achieve any kind of fluency across their two matches. He scored an unbeaten 46 off 27 in their last match and it was promising to see him bat with some intent.

Atif Shams looked competent with bat and ball on their first day of ECS action. He played a lone hand against SV Wiesbaden, making 26 not out after capturing 2 for 6 with the ball. He needs to step up again if they are going to get anything out of their two difficult matchups on Thursday.

Team Preview for FCA04 Darmstadt

FCA04 “United Stars” Darmstadt won both of their Wednesday matches, but not without a scare. They beat MSC Frankfurt in the opening match of the day off the very last ball, before chasing down 120 against FC Germania Bieber with an over and a half to spare in their other fixture. Germany’s ECL21 representatives will no doubt be keen to show the world why they deserve to be called German cricket’s champion club.

Captain: Muhammad Mudassar

Main Wicketkeeper: Umar Faroz

Key Players:

Muhammad Mudassar is an accomplished German international and he showed his class with a scintillating knock of 69 off only 21 balls against FC Germania Bieber. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see a century from him before the week is done in Frankfurt. He is also a handy spin bowling option if he decides to bring himself into the attack.

Tahir Ahmed was a wicket-taking machine on their first day of ECS action, taking six wickets for the day including 4 for 27 in their second match. He will be keen to keep up the pace as wickets are the best way to keep the opposition’s run-scoring under control.

Umar Faroz scored a crucial 37 off 21 balls to keep their run chase on track in their opening fixture. He also did a very tidy job with the gloves in the second half of the day, so I expect him to start behind the stumps for FCA04 Darmstadt on Thursday.

Mr Maximo’s tip: FCA04 DARMSTADT

FCA04 Darmstadt are considered the best cricket team in Germany by many pundits, but the fact that they were pushed on their opening day shows how small the margins are between many sides in this series. In contrast, Lemar CC Oberursel were dismal with the bat in their first match, lacking the required intent for T10 cricket. When it’s all said and done, I can’t see the United Stars being challenged in any serious way by Lemar CC Oberursel and so my prediction is that the FCA04 Darmstadt will make it three out of three in the first match of Thursday morning. I expect a tight finish for the top two positions in Group B so don’t miss any of the action, right here on the European Cricket Network!