GROUP B | 2ND QUALIFIER - MATCH 23 (ECC21.047) AUSTRIA (AUT) v PORTUGAL (POR) 1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
AUT Timeline: W W L W L W W W NR (Avg Score For 122, Avg Score Against 113)
POR Timeline: L L L L L L W W W (Avg Score For 102, Avg Score Against 116)
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. He is a handy batsman too. Leading wicket taker for AUT picking up NINE wickets.
Razmal Shigiwal, hard hitting batsman, started off with a bang plundering 96 runs in just 28 balls including 11 HUGE maximos against Romania. Second highest scorer for Austria mustering 198 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 211.
Iqbal Hossain, aggressive opening batsman, second highest scorer in the tournament, hammered 235 runs in six games at a strike rate of over 224 including a blistering 64* off 29 balls vs HUN. Has bagged three man of the match awards.
Noor Khan, right arm medium pacer with plenty of ECS experience, joint second highest wicket taker for Austria scalping SIX wickets in eight games. He is also a handy batsman.
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 SEVEN wickets with a best return of 3-4.
PORTUGAL (POR)
Captain: Najjam Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Francoise Stoman
Projected Top Order: Azhar Andani, Sharn Gomes, 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 scored 68 runs in seven knocks. He has also picked up EIGHT wickets.
Amir Zaib, another valuable all-rounder with vast ECN experience. Second highest scorer for Portugal racking up 222 runs in eight matches at a SR of 200. He hammered an unbeaten 72 off just 18 balls vs Romania. Has also picked up EIGHT wickets with the ball.
Junaid Khan, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, the left arm quick has looked lethal with the ball both at the start and in the death overs, top wicket taker for POR picking up 14 wickets in nine games with a best return of 4-14 vs ROM.
Sharn Gomes, classy left handed batsman, highest run scorer for POR racking up 282 runs in nine games. Scored back-to-back fifties on Thursday helping his side qualify for Finals Day. Muscled an unbeaten 78 off 28 balls in the eliminator racking up his consecutive fifty.
Imran Khan, all-rounder, hasn’t fired with the bat scoring just 41 runs in six innings but has been exceptionally well with the ball, second highest wicket taker for POR picking up 12 wickets.
After losing six on the trot, Portugal came from nowhere to win two from two on Thursday to qualify ahead of Romania and stay alive in the competition. They went on to beat Hungary in the eliminator to reach the second qualifier.
Last time they met: ECC21.037 | AUT 75(6) def POR 73 (22 Sep 2021)
Match Prediction: Portugal to make another win to continue their late resurgence and reach the finals
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