15 teams in three groups of five, have been whittled down to a select group of six nations for Championship Week from 4-8 October at the stunning Cartama Oval in Malaga, Spain.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts five T10 matches on Day 16 of the 2021 Dream11 European Cricket Championship on Monday 4 October.
Belgium and the hosts Spain have qualified from Group A, joined by the Netherlands XI and Austria from Group B for Championship Week.
Group C saw representative sides from England and Italy claim a coveted spot in Championship Week.
With a talented mix of National Counties, former and current County players, expertly led by Dan Lincoln, who scored a magnificent ton in the Group C Final against Italy, England XI will be favourites for the inaugural Dream11 European Cricket Championship crown.
The Netherlands will provide the stiffest challenge to the England XI as we witnessed regularly in their all-round displays while dominating Group B.
The other four sides appear evenly matched. Austria only lost to the Netherlands in group stage action, so it will be interesting to see how they perform against other opposition. However, the Austrians also have five new players in their 13man squad and time will tell how the chopping and changing affects both performance and team morale.
After starting with four straight defeats, Italy are the form side of the competition, winning six in a row, including that classic upset win over England XI. Again expertly led by skipper Baljit Singh, an early candidate for Man of the Tournament, Italy will take a huge amount of confidence into Championship Week.
The hosts Spain did well to qualify in a very tight Group A and will be concentrating their efforts on wins over Belgium, Italy and Austria, rather than focussing on the top two.
Belgium will be buoyant after winning Group A and should have plenty of belief in their explosive T10 talents, and begin Championship Week with a game against Italy on Monday morning.
Championship Week - Standings
BEL Belgium (0-0, NRR+0.000) (7-3 in Group A)
ENG XI England XI (0-0, NRR+0.000) (9-1 in Group C)
NED XI Netherlands XI (0-0, NRR+0.000) (8-1-1 in Group B)
AUT Austria (0-0, NRR+0.000) (7-3-1 in Group B)
ITA Italy (0-0, NRR+0.000) (6-5 in Group C)
SPA Spain (0-0, NRR+0.000) (6-4-1 in Group A)
European Cricket Championship 2021
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK | MATCH 1 (ECC21.073)
BELGIUM (BEL) v ITALY (ITA)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
BEL Group StageTimeline: W W W W L W L L W W (Avg Score For 134, Avg Score Against 119)
ITA Group Stage Timeline: L L L L W W W W W W L (Avg Score For 112, Avg Score Against 98)
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheikh Sheraz
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Muneeb Muhammad, Faisal Mehmood, Sheikh Sheraz, Saber Zakhil
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shagharai Sefat, Adnan Razzaq, Khalid Ahmadi
Spin Options: SheikhSheraz, Murid Ekrami
Coach: Abhijit Harikrishna Khan
BELGIUM Key Players:
Saber Zakhil, fearsome hitter, currently lies fourth in the world for sixes hit this year in T20i with 19 in seven matches. Highest scorer for BEL plundering 178 runs at a SR of 234 and deservedly bagged three man of the match awards. He can also chip in with crucial wickets in the middle overs and has picked up SIX wickets so far.
Ali Raza, wicket keeper batsman, very good behind the stumps and equally better in-front of it. Second highest scorer for BEL racking up 172 runs in 10 games including a 21-ball 57 vs Sweden in first week.
Shagharai Sefat, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history, spearheads the Belgian attack. Top wicket taker for Belgium picking up 10 wickets. Returned best figures of 4-21 and blasted 28 off just nine balls to take his side to an emphatic victory over Sweden in the opening week.
SheikhSheraz, captain who leads by example with bat and ball. Played a few crucial knocks in the opening week leading his side to victories mustering a total of 118 runs in the process.
Omid Rahimi, fearsome right handed batsman, one of the best finishers in the tournament, has plundered 126 runs at a strike rate of over 242. Has scored over 87% of his runs in boundaries.
Adnan Razzaq, right arm pacer who has decent pace and is consistent with the ball. Second highest wicket taker for his side scalping EIGHT wickets.
ITALY (ITA)
Captain: Baljit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Rajmani Sandhu,Nisar Ahmed, Amir Sharif, Baljit Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Imran, Ravi Paul, Amir Sharif
Spin Options: Jorawar Singh
Coach: Kamal Kariyawasama Indipolage
ITALY Key Players:
Baljit Singh, right arm medium pacer with good numbers in international T20. The experienced campaigner can also swing the bat hard. Second highest scorer for ITA racking up 211 runs in 10 innings. Muscled a brilliant match winning 43* off 20 balls vs ENG XI to take his side to a first ECC win. Mustered 62* off 19 in the Group C Final against ENG XI again. Has also picked up NINE wickets.
Amir Sharif, right handed batter and right arm pacer, capable of swinging the ball away from the right hander at pace, top wicket taker in the tournament so far scalping 17 wickets including a best return of 4-19 vs GER in the opening game. The all-rounder is also the second highest run scorer in the tournament blasting 324 runs in 11 games including 80* off just 26 balls in the Eliminator and 57* off 24 in the second qualifier.
Jaspreet Singh, right arm medium pacer, has been good throughout the tournament picking up 13 wickets in nine games with a best return of 3-7 sv CZR.
Nisar Ahmed, wicket keeper batsman, has plenty of T10 experience playing in the ECS, third highest scorer for ITA racking up 164 runs in nine games including a match winning 51* off 22 vs CZR in the Eliminator.
Italy might have succumbed in the Group C final but surely have serious momentum on their side. ITA are way ahead of Belgium in the ICC T20I rankings and will be bolstered by the addition of star all-rounder Rajmani Sandhu. BEL have also added a few big names to their squad including former captain Sherry Butt and talented all-rounder Burhan Niaz who impressed in the T20I series against Malta. The Championship Week opener promises to be an entertaining affair.
Match Prediction: Italy (ITA) to win the Championship Week curtain-raiser.
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK | MATCH 2 (ECC21.074)
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI) v SPAIN (SPA)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
NED XI Group StageTimeline: W W W W W W L W NR W (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 92)
SPA Group StageTimeline: LW NR W W W L W L W L (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 113)
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI)
Captain: Sebastiaan Braat
Wicketkeeper: Ratha Alphonse
Projected Top Order: Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Clayton Floyd, Boris Gorlee, Sebastiaan Braat
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein
Spin Options: Clayton Floyd, Julian de Mey
Coach: Pierce Fletcher
NETHERLANDS XI Key Players:
Sebastiaan Braat, skipper with six T20 international matches to his name. A dynamic, fast bowling all-rounder with vast experience facing top quality opposition. Hasn’t enjoyed much opportunity to impress with the bat, but has managed 129 runs in nine innings at a SR of 235. Has picked up 11 wickets with the ball including a best return of 3-10.
Boris Gorlee, young, up and coming talent, has represented the Dutch under-19 team, mustered an unbeaten 55 off 29 balls to bag his first man of the match award vs Romania. Third highest scorer for NED XI racking up 172 runs in eight innings.
Musa Nadeem Ahmad, star batsman, the left hander is the second highest run scorer for NED XI hammering 196 runs in nine knocks at a strike rate of 228. Has also picked up a couple of wickets and is a good outfielder.
Clayton Floyd, talented all-rounder and canny left-arm spinner. Mustered 115 off just 35 balls vs Romania in Week 2 racking up an historic first ever T10 international hundred. His knock included 15 towering maximos. Top scorer for NED XI amassing 245 runs in eight innings and is the joint top wicket taker for his side picking up 12 wickets.
Julian De Mey, slow left arm orthodox, highly effective in the middle overs, joint top wicket taker for NED XI scalping 12 wickets in 10 games including a best return of 3-12.
Ryan Klein, right arm fast bowler, became only the second bowler to take a T10 international HAT-TRICK - scalping 3-14 vs Austria. Has taken a total of EIGHT wickets in nine games.
SPAIN (SPA)
Captain: Christian Munoz-Mills
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Awais Ahmed, Hamza Saleem, Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Mehmood, Adeel Raja
Spin Options: Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
Coach: Dave Gelling
SPAIN Key Players:
Kuldeep Lal, has caught the eye in ECS comps over the last two seasons for his all-round performances. Second highest wicket taker for SPA scalping 12 wickets in 10 games with a best return of 3-6. Scored an entertaining 46 off 20 balls opening the innings vs BEL to bag his first man of the match award of the tournament.
Hamza Saleem, Prodigiously talented all-rounder, who made his international debut in the recent T20 Series win over Germany. Can make things happen with the ball and a quality left-hand bat, who can clear the fence with ease. Top scorer in Group A racking up 226 runs in 10 innings including three man of the match awards, showcasing his exquisite hitting. Plundered an unbeaten 65 off 28 balls vs Sweden in the second qualifier.
Awais Ahmed, destructive wicket keeper batsman, likes to take control of the game from ball one, third highest scorer for SPA racking up 170 runs in 10 innings including a quickfire 45 off 18 balls vs Norway.
Zulqarnain Haider, right arm pacer, has been impressive with the ball bowling good lines. Third highest wicket taker for Spain scalping 11 wickets in 10 games.
Jack Perman, classy top order batsman, impressed with his quick run-scoring ability in the opening week where he finished second highest scorer for SPA racking up 184 runs in eight innings.
Hosts Spain make their first Championship Week appearance alongside Group B winners Netherlands XI. SPA will be without their top wicket taker Thomas Vine and might struggle to pick up wickets in the death overs. NED XI are a strong side, winning nine off their 10 games in Week 2 and will start strong favourites.
Match Prediction: Netherlands XI (NED XI) to win at a canter.
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK | MATCH 3 (ECC21.075)
BELGIUM (BEL) v AUSTRIA (AUT)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
BEL Group StageTimeline: W W W W L W L L W W (Avg Score For 134, Avg Score Against 119)
AUT Group Stage Timeline: W W L W L W W W NR W L (Avg Score For 121, Avg Score Against 111)
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheikh Sheraz
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Muneeb Muhammad, Faisal Mehmood, Sheikh Sheraz, Saber Zakhil
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shagharai Sefat, Adnan Razzaq, Khalid Ahmadi
Spin Options: SheikhSheraz, Murid Ekrami
Coach: Abhijit Harikrishna Khan
BELGIUM Key Players:
Saber Zakhil, fearsome hitter, currently lies fourth in the world for sixes hit this year in T20i with 19 in seven matches. Highest scorer for BEL plundering 178 runs at a SR of 234 and deservedly bagged three man of the match awards. He can also chip in with crucial wickets in the middle overs and has picked up SIX wickets so far.
Ali Raza, wicket keeper batsman, very good behind the stumps and equally better in-front of it. Second highest scorer for BEL racking up 172 runs in 10 games including a 21-ball 57 vs Sweden in first week.
Shagharai Sefat, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history, spearheads the Belgian attack. Top wicket taker for Belgium picking up 10 wickets. Returned best figures of 4-21 and blasted 28 off just nine balls to take his side to an emphatic victory over Sweden in the opening week.
SheikhSheraz, captain who leads by example with bat and ball. Played a few crucial knocks in the opening week leading his side to victories mustering a total of 118 runs in the process.
Omid Rahimi, fearsome right handed batsman, one of the best finishers in the tournament, has plundered 126 runs at a strike rate of over 242. Has scored over 87% of his runs in boundaries.
Adnan Razzaq, right arm pacer who has decent pace and is consistent with the ball. Second highest wicket taker for his side scalping EIGHT wickets.
AUSTRIA (AUT)
Captain: Razmal Shigiwal
Wicketkeeper: Abrar Bilal
Projected Top Order: Iqbal Hossain, Bilal Zalmai, Razmal Shigiwal, Abrar Bilal, Mirza Ahsan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Aqib Iqbal, Sahel Zadran
Spin Options: Sahel Zadran, Sahil Momin, Iqbal Hossain
Coach: Marcel Biersteker
AUSTRIA Key Players:
Razmal Shigiwal, hard hitting batsman, started off Week 2 with a bang plundering 96 runs in just 28 balls including 11 HUGE maximos against Romania. Second highest scorer for Austria mustering 226 runs in nine innings.
Iqbal Hossain, aggressive opening batsman, second highest scorer in Group B, hammered 265 runs in 10 innings including a blistering 64* off 29 balls vs HUN. Has bagged three man of the match awards.
Aqib Iqbal, young, energetic fast bowler, capable of swinging the ball in the air and off the deck, second highest wicket taker for AUT picking up NINE wickets with a best return of 3-4.
Bilal Zalmai, the hard hitting opening batsman has been included in the Austria side for the Championship Week to boost the AUT batting. The all-rounder has amassed 618 runs at a SR of 206 and picked up 12 wickets in 22 ECS matches.
Austria enjoyed a good run in Week 2 almost beating a strong NED XI in the Final. Belgium are Group A winners and will fancy their chances against AUT who are denied the skills of top wicket taker Abdullah Akbarjan. These two sides are evenly matched and could well provide us with a blockbuster.
Match Prediction: Austria (AUT) to win a thrilling encounter.
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK | MATCH 4 (ECC21.076)
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI) v ITALY (ITA)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
NED XI Group Stage Timeline: W W W W W W L W NR W (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 92)
ITA Group Stage Timeline: L L L L W W W W W W L (Avg Score For 112, Avg Score Against 98)
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI)
Captain: Sebastiaan Braat
Wicketkeeper: Ratha Alphonse
Projected Top Order: Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Clayton Floyd, Boris Gorlee, Sebastiaan Braat
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein
Spin Options: Clayton Floyd, Julian de Mey
Coach: Pierce Fletcher
NETHERLANDS XI Key Players:
Sebastiaan Braat, skipper with six T20 international matches to his name. A dynamic, fast bowling all-rounder with vast experience facing top quality opposition. Hasn’t enjoyed much opportunity to impress with the bat, but has managed 129 runs in nine innings at a SR of 235. Has picked up 11 wickets with the ball including a best return of 3-10.
Boris Gorlee, young, up and coming talent, has represented the Dutch under-19 team, mustered an unbeaten 55 off 29 balls to bag his first man of the match award vs Romania. Third highest scorer for NED XI racking up 172 runs in eight innings.
Musa Nadeem Ahmad, star batsman, the left hander is the second highest run scorer for NED XI hammering 196 runs in nine knocks at a strike rate of 228. Has also picked up a couple of wickets and is a good outfielder.
Clayton Floyd, talented all-rounder and canny left-arm spinner. Mustered 115 off just 35 balls vs Romania in Week 2 racking up an historic first ever T10 international hundred. His knock included 15 towering maximos. Top scorer for NED XI amassing 245 runs in eight innings and is the joint top wicket taker for his side picking up 12 wickets.
Julian De Mey, slow left arm orthodox, highly effective in the middle overs, joint top wicket taker for NED XI scalping 12 wickets in 10 games including a best return of 3-12.
Ryan Klein, right arm fast bowler, became only the second bowler to take a T10 international HAT-TRICK - scalping 3-14 vs Austria. Has taken a total of EIGHT wickets in nine games.
ITALY (ITA)
Captain: Baljit Singh
Wicket Keeper: Nisar Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Rajmani Sandhu,Nisar Ahmed, Amir Sharif, Baljit Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Imran, Ravi Paul, Amir Sharif
Spin Options: Jorawar Singh
Coach: Kamal Kariyawasama Indipolage
ITALY Key Players:
Baljit Singh, right arm medium pacer with good numbers in international T20. The experienced campaigner can also swing the bat hard. Second highest scorer for ITA racking up 211 runs in 10 innings. Muscled a brilliant match winning 43* off 20 balls vs ENG XI to take his side to a first ECC win. Mustered 62* off 19 in the Group C Final against ENG XI again. Has also picked up NINE wickets.
Amir Sharif, right handed batter and right arm pacer, capable of swinging the ball away from the right hander at pace, top wicket taker in the tournament so far scalping 17 wickets including a best return of 4-19 vs GER in the opening game. The all-rounder is also the second highest run scorer in the tournament blasting 324 runs in 11 games including 80* off just 26 balls in the Eliminator and 57* off 24 in the second qualifier.
Jaspreet Singh, right arm medium pacer, has been good throughout the tournament picking up 13 wickets in nine games with a best return of 3-7 sv CZR.
Nisar Ahmed, wicket keeper batsman, has plenty of T10 experience playing in the ECS, third highest scorer for ITA racking up 164 runs in nine games including a match winning 51* off 22 vs CZR in the Eliminator.
Italy face a tough challenge against Group B winners Netherlands XI. ITA are in tremendous form though and will take confidence from their massive win against ENG XI last week.
A strong Dutch outfit on the other hand, will be keen on finishing the opening day of Championship Week on a high and should have enough fire-power to stop an in-form ITA side.
Match Prediction: Netherlands XI (NED XI) to edge a narrow win.
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK | MATCH 5 (ECC21.077)
ENGLAND XI (ENG XI) v SPAIN (SPA)
1500 GMT | 1700 CET | 2030 IST
ENG XI Group Stage Timeline: W W W W L W W W W W (Avg Score For 128, Avg Score Against 91)
SPA Group StageTimeline: LW NR W W W L W L W L (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 113)
ENGLAND XI (ENG XI)
Captain: Dan Lincoln
Wicketkeeper: Dan Lincoln, Alex Mellor
Projected Top Four: Dan Lincoln, Harrison Ward, Tom Bevan, Alex Mellor
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zum Ahktar, Andy Rishton, Rich Edwards
Spin Options: Euan Woods, Alex Russell, Sam Pearce, Max Uttley, Tom Bevan
Coach: Tom Lambert
ENGLAND XI Key Players:
Sam Pearce, Wales captain and bowling all-rounder, he represented Glamorgan in the T20 Blast this summer and Royal London One Day Cup. Pearce also led Wales to the semi-finals of the NCCA fifty-overs competition this summer. Top wicket taker for ENG XI picking up 15 wickets including a best return of 3-19.
Alex Mellor, the most experienced player in the side at 31 and a former Warwickshire CCC player. Third highest scorer for ENG XI racking up 172 runs in nine games including a brilliant 70 off 26 balls vs CZR in Week 3.
Harrison Ward, the hard hitting left handed batsman plays for Sussex CCC. Started off with a band but has gone cold in the last few games. He will look to finish on a high. Second highest scorer for ENG XI plundering 212 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 230.
Alex Russell, hugely talented leg spinner,academy graduate at Gloucestershire CCC, second highest wicket taker for ENG XI scalping 12 wickets at an ER of 6.60 including a best return of 3-4 vs GER. He has the best economy rate in the tournament so far.
Rich Edwards, right arm medium pacer and hard hitting lower order batsman, third highest wicket taker for ENG XI scalping 10 wickets in nine games.
Dan Lincoln, skipper, wicketkeeper and a former professional footballer with Reading FC, he has played for Glamorgan and Kent in the last two years in county cricket and brings experience to this young side. The right hander did not start well but has turned it around when it mattered, finishing top scorer for ENG XI with 273 runs in 10 games including a blistering match winning century vs Italy in the final.
SPAIN (SPA)
Captain: Christian Munoz-Mills
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Awais Ahmed, Hamza Saleem, Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Mehmood, Adeel Raja
Spin Options: Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
Coach: Dave Gelling
SPAIN Key Players:
Kuldeep Lal, has caught the eye in ECS comps over the last two seasons for his all-round performances. Second highest wicket taker for SPA scalping 12 wickets in 10 games with a best return of 3-6. Scored an entertaining 46 off 20 balls opening the innings vs BEL to bag his first man of the match award of the tournament.
Hamza Saleem, Prodigiously talented all-rounder, who made his international debut in the recent T20 Series win over Germany. Can make things happen with the ball and a quality left-hand bat, who can clear the fence with ease. Top scorer in Group A racking up 226 runs in 10 innings including three man of the match awards, showcasing his exquisite hitting. Plundered an unbeaten 65 off 28 balls vs Sweden in the second qualifier.
Awais Ahmed, destructive wicket keeper batsman, likes to take control of the game from ball one, third highest scorer for SPA racking up 170 runs in 10 innings including a quickfire 45 off 18 balls vs Norway.
Zulqarnain Haider, right arm pacer, has been impressive with the ball bowling good lines. Third highest wicket taker for Spain scalping 11 wickets in 10 games.
Jack Perman, classy top order batsman, impressed with his quick run-scoring ability in the opening week where he finished second highest scorer for SPA racking up 184 runs in eight innings.
England XI will have gained a lot of confidence after that emphatic victory over Italy in the Group C final. Spain will have to play out of their skins to get anywhere near this impressive English side.
Match Prediction: England XI (ENG XI) to get off the mark in style.
