MATCH 9 (ECC21.033) AUSTRIA (AUT) v PORTUGAL (POR) 1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
AUT Timeline: W W (Avg Score For 156, Avg Score Against 101)
POR Timeline: L L (Avg Score For 92, Avg Score Against 120)
AUSTRIA (AUT)
Captain: Razmal Shigiwal
Wicketkeeper: Abrar Bilal
Projected Top Order: Iqbal Hossain, Zeeshan Goraya, Razmal Shigiwal, Abrar Bilal, Mirza Ahsan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Aqib Iqbal, Sahel Zadran
Spin Options: Sahel Zadran, Sahil Momin, Abdullah Akbarjan, Iqbal Hossain
AUSTRIA Key Players:
Abdullah Akbarjan, talented left-arm slow bowler with good pace variations, is generally very economical, scalped TWO HAT-TRICKS at FanCode ECS Austria Vienna. Also holds the record of bowling the joint second most economical spell in T20Is for players to have bowled a full quota of four overs giving away just four runs in four overs. He is a handy batsman too. Picked up THREE wickets on Monday.
Razmal Shigiwal, hard hitting batsman, started off with a bang plundering 96 runs in just 28 balls including 11 HUGE maximos against Romania.
Iqbal Hossain, aggressive opening batsman, hammered 103 runs on Monday at a strike rate of over 250 including a man of the match performance against Hungary scoring a blistering 64* off 29 balls.
Noor Khan, right arm medium pacer with plenty of ECS experience, finished top wicket taker for Austria on Monday scalping FOUR wickets in two games. He is also a handy batsman.
PORTUGAL (POR)
Captain: Najjam Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Francoise Stoman
Projected Top Order: Azhar Andani, Sharon Gomez, Amir Zaib, Anthony Chambers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Junaid Khan, Najjam Shahzad
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Amandeep Singh
PORTUGAL Key Players:
Najjam Shahzad, star all-rounder, dependable batsman who can anchor the innings very well, has amassed 397 runs in 22 ECN games and picked up 14 wickets. Second highest scorer for POR on Monday with 46 runs in two knocks. He also picked up THREE wickets.
Azhar Andani, big hitting opening batsman, has a good T20I record mustering 276 runs in four matches, including 100 off 51 balls vs Gibraltar.
Amir Zaib, another valuable all-rounder, who has impressed in the T20Is mustering 106 runs and picking up FIVE wickets in four matches. Has vast ECN experience as well and will be keen to impress on the big stage. He looked in ominous form with both bat and ball finishing the opening day of Group B action as the leading run scorer for POR mustering 72 runs and joint leading wicket taker picking up FOUR wickets.
Md Siraj Nipo, boasts a wealth of experience playing in ECN events, a classy batsman who bowls tidy left arm off spin. Hard to get away, he will be a key bowler for Portugal. Has scored 208 runs and picked up 33 wickets in 31 ECN matches.
Junaid Khan, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, the left arm quick has bagged SEVEN wickets in four T20Is. Has mustered 388 runs in 18 ECN games and picked up 17 wickets as well. Looked lethal with the ball both at the start and in the death overs, joint top wicket taker for POR picking up FOUR wickets in two games with a best return of 3-10 vs NED XI.
Austria may have lost their unbeaten record earlier in the day, but will be primed to bounce back against Portugal. Based on their performances on the opening day, Austria will be strong favourites to rack up another win.
Match Prediction: Austria (AUT) to win at a canter.
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