MATCH 8 (ECC21.008) BELGIUM (BEL) v NORWAY (NOR) 1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
BEL Timeline: W W (Avg Score For 137, Avg Score Against 88)
NOR Timeline: L L (Avg Score For 117, Avg Score Against 143)
BELGIUM (BEL)
Captain: Sheikh Sheraz
Wicketkeeper: Ali Raza
Projected Top Order: Aziz Mohammad, Mamoon Latif, Faisal Mehmood, Sheikh Sheraz, Saber Zakhil
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shagharai Sefat, Adnan Razzaq
Spin Options: SheikhSheraz, 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. Top scorer at the end of the opening day plundering 96 runs at a SR of 310 to deservedly bag back-to-back man of the match awards.
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. Mustered 55 runs in two games at a sprightly SR of 262.
Shagharai Sefat, produced some impressive spells in recent ECS history and likely to spearhead the Belgian attack. Top wicket taker for BEL on the opening day picking up TWO wickets.
SheikhSheraz, 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. Looked at his destructive best hammering 24 off 11 vs LUX.
NORWAY (NOR)
Captain: Raza Iqbal
Wicketkeeper: Suhail Iftikhar
Projected Top Order:Raza Iqbal, Suhail Iftikhar, 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. Scored a 26-ball 52 vs Spain in the second game.
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. Returned figures of 2-23 vs Sweden on Monday.
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. Scalped two wickets on Monday.
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 too. Looked good with the bat scoring 20 off 11 vs Sweden.
Belgium will be buoyant after two impressive wins on Day One. Norway are the top ranked side in the Group, sitting in 39 in the ICC T20 Mens rankings, but have plenty of work to do to move back into contention on Tuesday.
Match Prediction: Belgium (BEL) to edge a narrow win.
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