MATCH 2 (ECC21.002) SWEDEN (SWE) v NORWAY (NOR) 0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
SWE Timeline: ECC DEBUT
NOR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
SWEDEN (SWE)
Captain: Abhijit Venkatesh
Wicketkeeper: Ismaeel Zia
Projected Top Order: Share Ali, Rahel Khan, Azam Khalil, Abhijit Venkatesh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Khalid Azizi, Zabi Zahid, Qudratullah Mir Afzal
Spin Options: Azam Khalil, Oktai Gholami, Rahel Khan
SWEDEN Key Players:
Azam Khalil, experienced campaigner in this format who contributes with bat and ball. Tireless worker on behalf of Swedish and European Cricket who will enjoy his moment in the sun in this tournament. Has scored 344 runs and picked up 21 wickets in 19 ECS matches.
Rahel Khan, a late call up who has seriously impressed with bat and ball in ECS cricket. Will be keen to take his chance on the big stage. The all-rounder has racked up 237 runs and picked up 23 wickets in 15 ECS matches.
Sami Rahmani, another top class all-rounder for Sweden, renowned for his power hitting and massive sixes. Can also keep it tight with the ball. Has mustered 195 runs at a SR of over 207 and has scalped 10 wickets in 17 ECS matches.
Ismaeel Zia, tidy wicket keeper and has caught the eye with the bat too in ECS cricket. Has good technique and is easy on the eye to watch.
Share Ali, one of the fiercest attacking batsmen in the Swedish batting line up. Will be keen to get the Swedes off to a quick start. Mustered 395 runs in 18 ECS games.
NORWAY (NOR)
Captain: Raza Iqbal
Wicketkeeper: Suhail Iftikhar
Projected Top Order: Raza Iqbal, Khizer Ahmed, Walid Ghauri, Wahidullah Sahak
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vinay Ravi, Muhammad Sher Sahak, Hayatullah Niazi
Spin Options: Waqas Ahmed, Raza Iqbal, Pritvhi Bhart
NORWAY Key Players:
Raza Iqbal, the Norway captain is a brilliant all-rounder, who played a key role in helping Norway top Group C of 2018 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. He made 125 runs and took nine wickets at an economy of 3.35 in the tournament. In the Regional qualifiers in 2020, he also bagged five wickets with his left-arm wrist spin. Naturally, top wicket taker for Norway in the recent Tri-Series with seven scalps.
Wahidullah Sahak, top-order batsman, took a definite liking to the Germany attack in Match 6 of the recent Tri-Series, smashing a half-century to guide Norway to the highest score in the series. Scored a total of 98 runs in four matches and scalped FOUR victims as well.
Mohammed Sher Sahak, a difference maker with both bat and ball who caught eye in the recent Tri-Series scoring 118 runs in five games at a decent strike rate of 137.20.
Hayatullah Niazi, a seriously talented cricketer who has been playing in England this summer. Caught the eye at ICC WT20 Europe Qualifier as a 17-year-old. Will be one of the fastest bowlers in the tournament and can give it a whack with the bat.
Ranked highest among all teams in Group A, Norway enjoyed a good run in the recently concluded tri-series in Germany reaching the final. Sweden are on the rise in international cricket and are doing all the right things to become one of the leading teams in Europe, enjoying a fairly decent couple of tours recently to Denmark and Finland.
Match Prediction: Norway (NOR) to march to a narrow win.
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