MATCH 1 (ECC21.001) SPAIN (SPA) v BELGIUM (BEL) 0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
SPAIN (SPA)
Captain: Christian Munoz-Mills
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Order: Awais Ahmed, Yasir Ali, Hamza Saleem, Christian Munoz-Mills
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Mehmood, Adeel Raja
Spin Options: Jack Perman, Yasir Ali
SPAIN Key Players:
Yasir Ali, consistently one of the best batsmen in Spain over the last decade and can chip in with vital wickets with the ball. The all-rounder has amassed 1055 runs in 28 ECS matches at an average of 44 and SR of 217 and has taken 20 wickets as well.
Kuldeep Lal, has caught the eye in ECS comps over the last two seasons and will be hoping to make a similar impression at ECC21. His numbers speak for themselves - 941 runs including a hundred and six fifties and 25 wickets - all in 34 ECS games.
Hamza Saleem, Prodigiously talented all-rounder, who made his international debut in the Tri-Series victory over Germany. Can make things happen with the ball and a quality left-hand bat, who can clear the fence with ease - 767 runs and 38 wickets in 34 ECS games.
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheraz Sheikh
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Mamoon Latif, Ali Raza, Omid Rahimi, Faisal Mehmood
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sefat Shagharai, Adnan Razzaq
Spin Options: Sheraz Sheikh, Murid Ekrami
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. Also recently broke the T20 World Record (with Raja Saqlain), posting an undefeated 132 for a 9th wicket stand in the series against Austria.
Aziz Mohammad, destructive right handed batsman who has impressed in ECS tournaments in Spain last season and most recently in the Netherlands. Has racked up 676 runs in 26 ECS games plundering over 84% of his runs in boundaries. Can also deliver useful wickets as a change bowler, picking up 19 ECS wickets.
Sefat Shagharai, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history and likely to spearhead the Belgian attack.
Mamoon Latif, left-hander, clean striker of the ball with ultra-fast hands. Has scored 104 runs in 10 ECS games.
Sheraz Sheikh, captain who leads by example with bat and ball. The all-rounder showed immense talent with the ball vs Malta in the T20i series. Has scored 132 runs and picked up EIGHT wickets in 15 ECS games.
Hosts Spain kickstart the proceedings against Belgium in the ECC opener. Spain boast an impressive T20I record winning 11 of their 14 matches. SPA have only lost twice at home in 11 T20Is and would be confident of getting the better of Belgium who are ranked a couple of places ahead of SPA at 40 in the ICC rankings.
Match Prediction: Spain (SPA) clinch the ECC curtain-raiser in some style.
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