Group C | MATCH 2 (ECC21.050) FINLAND (FIN) v CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR) 0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
FIN Timeline: ECC DEBUT
CZR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
FINLAND (FIN)
Captain: Nathan Collins
Wicketkeeper: Jonathan Scamans, Aravind Mohan
Projected top four: Nathan Collins, Peter Gallagher, Aravind Mohan, Amjad Sher
Projected opening bowlers: Amjad Sher, Naveed Shahid, Muhammad Imran, Mahesh Tambe
Spin Options: Hariharan Dandapani, Peter Gallagher
FINLAND Key Players:
Amjad Sher, a right-arm medium pace bowler and middle-order batter, Amjad Sher enjoyed a standout Finnish Premier League in 2020 making 284 runs at a strike-rate of 142 and also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets for Empire CC.
Mahesh Tambe, the Empire CC quick bowler finished as leading wicket-taker in the Finnish Premier League with 25 wickets at an economy rate of 6.22 and an average of 9.72.
Peter Gallagher, a batting all-rounder who is a terrific spinner, Gallagher finished as the leading wicket-taker with seven wickets in the European Cricket Series Finland in 2020 while also making 130 runs, the second-most by anyone, at an average of 43.33 and a strike-rate of 188.4.
Nathan Collins, team captain and opener, second-highest run-scorer in the Finnish Premier League in 2020 with 387 runs at an average of 32.25 and a strike-rate of 102.11.
CZECH REPUBLIC (CZR)
Captain: Arun Ashokan
Wicket Keeper: Hilal Ahmad
Projected Top Order: Sabawoon Davizi, Arun Ashokan, Sudesh Wickramasekara, Aakash Parmar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sabawoon Davizi, Ali Waqar
Spin Options: Keyur Mehta, Naveed Ahmed, Arun Ashokan
Sudesh Wickramasekara, known as “The Beast” for his hard hitting abilities, joint World Record holder for fastest ton in T20Is off just 35 balls. Can call on bags of T10 experience playing in ECS mustering 509 runs in 17 games. Can also bowl gentle medium pacers.
Sabawoon Davizi, star all-rounder, scored 91 runs on debut - fifth highest on T20I debut, also has a hundred to his name against Malta in 68 balls which happens to be the eighth longest T20I innings (in terms of balls played). Vastly experienced in the T10 format, scoring 730 runs and picking up 23 wickets in 23 ECN matches over the past two years.
Arun Ashokan, captain, classy opening batter, will look to provide solid starts to his side. Scored 212 runs in 10 games for the victorious Prague CC Kings in the FanCode ECS Czech Republic Prague earlier this year.
Ali Waqar, right arm pacer, made his T20I debut earlier this year vs Luxembourg, bowls good lines and is economical more often than not. Has bagged 17 wickets in 18 ECN matches at an economy of just 7.26 runs per over.
At 67 in the ICC T20I World Rankings, Czech Republic might be the lowest ranked side in Group C, but boast a host of proven performers in ECS and at international level. CZR are likely to trump Finland in this second Group C matchup.
Match Prediction: Czech Republic (CZR) to win comprehensively.
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