The new and fresh venture sees 15 teams feature in three groups of five, with each group meeting over a separate week of T10 action. Each group will feature 24 T10 games - a double round-robin and a playoff. The leading two countries in each group will advance to a Finals Week scheduled from October 4-8 in Spain.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts five T10 matches on Day 6 of the 2021 Dream11 European Cricket Championship on Monday 20 September.
Group B action gets underway on Monday September 20 from the picturesque Cartama Oval in Spain with Austria, Romania, Netherlands XI, Hungary and Portugal all competing to qualify for Championship Week from October 4.
Currently ranked 41 in the ICC T20 Mens rankings, Austria will be a fiercely combative T10 unit as most of their line-up have impressed in a host of European Cricket Network events in Austria over the past two years.
Ranked 38 in the ICC Men's T20I team rankings, Romania have a terrific team on paper with some huge stars that made a massive impact in ECS Romania tournaments over the past two seasons, most recently at FanCode ECS Romania 2021. Romania were crowned champions of the Sofia Twenty20 Cup recently and include their most famous player Pavel Florin, who became an internet sensation at ECL19.
Ranked 52 in the ICC T20I rankings, Portugal became an ICC member in 1996 and first played international cricket a year later. Portugal will field a host of players with valuable experience from three ECN events in the past two years and will be keen to showcase their skills to a global audience.
Ranked 17th in the ICC Men's T20I team rankings, Netherlands are set to compete in the ICC T20 World Cup next month and boast a rich European Cricket history. A strong, well-balanced outfit, the Netherlands side can call on a host of players with valuable international T20I experience in their Dream11 European Cricket Championship squad. The highest ranked side, Team Netherlands, will be the team to beat in Group B and will fancy their chances of going all the way in ECC21.
Ranked 61 in the ICC Men's T20I team rankings, Hungary are the lowest ranked of the Group B teams. Nevertheless, Hungary are a side with great potential, boasting several talented players with decent ECS experience. Dark horses in Group B of the Dream11 European Cricket Championship, Hungary will look to spring a surprise in the second week of ECC21.
Group B
AUT Austria (0-0, NRR+0.000)
HUN Hungary (0-0, NRR+0.000)
NED XI Netherlands XI (0-0, NRR+0.000)
POR Portugal (0-0, NRR+0.000)
ROM Romania (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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Group B | MATCH 1 (ECC21.025)
AUSTRIA (AUT) v ROMANIA (ROM)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
AUT Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ROM Timeline: ECC DEBUT
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. Also holds the record of bowling the joint second most economical spell in T20Is for players to have bowled a full quota of four overs giving away just four runs in four overs. He is a handy batsman too.
Mark Simpson Parker, talented all-rounder, impressed on his debut ECS season this year racking up 264 runs and picking up 12 wickets. The 24-year-old also holds the record of 13th highest 3rd wicket partnership in T20Is (with Razmal Shigiwal), posting 123 vs Luxembourg.
Zeeshan Goraya, a dependable top order batsman who can shift gears when needed, has racked up 412 runs in 17 ECS innings and also scalped 24 wickets.
Shahil Momin, slow left arm orthodox, very talented, has a good cricketing brain and is a decent batsman as well. Has scored 90 runs and picked up 11 wickets in six ECS games. The all-rounder also mustered 61 runs on his T20I debut against Belgium earlier this year.
Abrar Bilal, attacking batsman, likes to take charge early in his innings, has fairly impressive ECS numbers scoring 420 runs in 21 innings. He can keep wicket and also roll his arm over when needed.
ROMANIA (ROM)
Captain:Ramesh Satheesan
Wicketkeeper:Satwik Nadigotla
Projected Top Order:Ramesh Satheesan,Taranjeet Singh,Gohar Manan,Satwik Nadigotla
Projected Opening Bowlers:Rajesh Kumar,Vasu Saini
Spin / Slow Options:Taranjeet Singh,Ramesh Satheesan, Pavel Florin
ROMANIA Key Players:
Taranjeet Singh, the leading run-scorer in FanCode ECS Romania 2021 by a large distance, Taranjeet played for title winners Cluj and made 493 runs at an average of 54.77 and a breathtaking strike-rate of 273.88. He also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets. In European Cricket Series Romania 2020 too, Taranjeet was a key player, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer and third-highest wicket-taker. A terrific all-rounder and the pillar of this Romanian side.
Gohar Manan, a top-order batsman for ACCB in FanCode ECS Romania, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 365 runs at an average of 40.55 and a strike-rate of 270.37. He once held the record for the quickest hundred in ECS history (off 29 balls). He had also finished as the highest run-getter in the European Cricket Series Romania 2020. Gohar is a huge part of the Romanian side and will be hoping to make a huge impact.
Ramesh Satheesan, batting all-rounder and skipper, he was the leading wicket-taker at FanCode ECS Romania 2021 with 15 wickets at an average of 9.93. He also figured in the top five run-scorers list and will be hoping to lead Romania to glory at the ECC21.
Pavel Florin, the Romanian superstar has the fifth-best strike-rate in T20 international cricket for bowlers with at least 10 wickets, picking up 15 wickets in 23.3 overs. He was also the leading wicket taker for Romania in the recently concluded Sofia Twenty20 picking up seven wickets.
The two sides last met in the Continental Cup in 2019 with Romania prevailing over Austria in a close contest. Ranked ahead of AUT, Romania are on a tremendous run of form and will be confident of making a positive start in the Group B curtain-raiser.
Match Prediction: Romania (ROM) to win an entertaining affair.
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Group B | MATCH 2 (ECC21.026)
PORTUGAL (POR) v HUNGARY (HUN)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
POR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
HUN Timeline: ECC DEBUT
PORTUGAL (POR)
Captain: Najam Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Francoise Stoman
Projected Top Order: Azhar Andani, Sharon Gomez, Amir Zaib, Anthony Chambers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Junaid Khan, Najam Shahzad
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Amandeep Singh
PORTUGAL Key Players:
Najam Shahzad, star all-rounder, dependable batsman who can anchor the innings very well, has amassed 397 runs in 22 ECN games and picked up 14 wickets.
Azhar Andani, big hitting opening batsman, has a good T20I record mustering 276 runs in four matches, including 100 off 51 balls vs Gibraltar.
Amir Zaib, another valuable all-rounder, who has impressed in the T20Is mustering 106 runs and picking up FIVE wickets in four matches. Has vast ECN experience as well and will be keen to impress on the big stage.
Md Siraj Nipo, boasts a wealth of experience playing in ECN events, a classy batsman who bowls tidy left arm off spin. Hard to get away, he will be a key bowler for Portugal. Has scored 208 runs and picked up 33 wickets in 31 ECN matches.
Junaid Khan, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, the left arm quick has bagged SEVEN wickets in four T20Is. Has mustered 388 runs in 18 ECN games and picked up 17 wickets as well.
HUNGARY (HUN)
Captain: Marc Ahuja
Wicketkeeper: Satyadeep Aswathnarayan
Projected Top Order: Zeeshan Kukikhel, Harsh Mandhyan, Marc Ahuja, Zahir Safi Mohammed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Habib Deldar, Harsh Mandhyan, Abhishek Kheterpal and Asanka Weligamage
Spin Options: Harsh Mandhyan
HUNGARY Key Players:
Marc Ahuja, captain and key batsman, the Mumbai-born player has T20I experience and is the lynchpin of the batting line-up. A solid, anchor batsman, he starred in both the 2020 and 2021 ECS Hungary tournaments for back-to-back title winners, Royal Tigers.
Satyadeep Aswathnarayan, wicketkeeper and big-hitting batsman with T20I experience, he is a middle-order gun to watch out for.
Abhishek Kheterpal, right-arm fast bowler who loves taking the new ball and can swing it both ways, he is a genuine threat in the powerplay overs. He was the top wicket-taker in FanCode ECS Hungary 2021 with 14 wickets at an average of 10.00 and economy rate of 8.23.
Nisantha Liyanage, a key player for Budapest Blinders in their surge to the finals of FanCode ECS Hungary, the right-arm medium pacer finished with eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.58.
Ranked 61 in the ICC Men's T20I team rankings, Hungary are the lowest ranked of the Group B teams, but boast several talented players with decent ECS experience. Ranked ahead of HUN at 52, Portugal have a 4-0 win-loss record in T20Is this year and will be keen to make a fast start.
Match Prediction: Portugal (POR) to win convincingly.
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Group B | MATCH 3 (ECC21.027)
ROMANIA (ROM) v NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
ROM Timeline: ECC DEBUT
NED XI Timeline: ECC DEBUT
ROMANIA (ROM)
Captain:Ramesh Satheesan
Wicketkeeper:Satwik Nadigotla
Projected Top Order:Ramesh Satheesan,Taranjeet Singh,Gohar Manan,Satwik Nadigotla
Projected Opening Bowlers:Rajesh Kumar,Vasu Saini
Spin Options:Taranjeet Singh,Ramesh Satheesan
ROMANIA Key Players:
Taranjeet Singh, the leading run-scorer in FanCode ECS Romania 2021 by a large distance, Taranjeet played for title winners Cluj and made 493 runs at an average of 54.77 and a breathtaking strike-rate of 273.88. He also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets. In European Cricket Series Romania 2020 too, Taranjeet was a key player, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer and third-highest wicket-taker. A terrific all-rounder and the pillar of this Romanian side.
Gohar Manan, a top-order batsman for ACCB in FanCode ECS Romania, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 365 runs at an average of 40.55 and a strike-rate of 270.37. He once held the record for the quickest hundred in ECS history (off 29 balls). He had also finished as the highest run-getter in the European Cricket Series Romania 2020. Gohar is a huge part of the Romanian side and will be hoping to make a huge impact.
Ramesh Satheesan, batting all-rounder and skipper, he was the leading wicket-taker at FanCode ECS Romania 2021 with 15 wickets at an average of 9.93. He also figured in the top five run-scorers list and will be hoping to lead Romania to glory at the ECC21.
Pavel Florin, the Romanian superstar has the fifth-best strike-rate in T20 international cricket for bowlers with at least 10 wickets, picking up 15 wickets in 23.3 overs. He was also the leading wicket taker for Romania in the recently concluded Sofia Twenty20 picking up seven wickets.
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI)
Captain: Sebastiaan Braat
Wicketkeeper: Asad Zulfiqar
Projected Top Order: Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Boris Gorlee, Navjit Singh, Victor Lubbers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein
Spin Options: Clayton Floyd, Julian de Mey
NETHERLANDS XI Key Players:
Sebastiaan Braat, skipper with six T20 international matches to his name. A dynamic, fast bowling all-rounder with vast experience facing top quality opposition.
Musa Nadeem Ahmad, star batsman in the recent FanCode ECS Netherlands Capelle with hosts Sparta Cricket 1888, hitting an unbeaten century on his way to 215 runs at an average of 43 and a SR of 193.69 in the tournament. He won the Man of the Match award three times in the tournament.
Vivian Kingma, fast bowler with international experience. He featured in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup squad. A capable new ball bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the pitch.
Max Hoornweg, right-arm medium pacer with previous experience of playing in the ECS with Sparta Cricket 1888. Hoornweg has 29 wickets in the domestic season in the Netherlands at an average of 22.55 with a best return of 5/37.
Romania will already know the conditions from their earlier game, so this may prove to be one of the toughest tests for the Netherlands who make their tournament bow.
Match Prediction: Netherlands XI (NED XI) to win a thrilling contest.
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Group B | MATCH 4 (ECC21.028)
AUSTRIA (AUT) v HUNGARY (HUN)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
AUT Timeline: ECC DEBUT
HUN Timeline: ECC DEBUT
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. Also holds the record of bowling the joint second most economical spell in T20Is for players to have bowled a full quota of four overs giving away just four runs in four overs. He is a handy batsman too.
Mark Simpson Parker, talented all-rounder, impressed on his debut ECS season this year racking up 264 runs and picking up 12 wickets. The 24-year-old also holds the record of 13th highest 3rd wicket partnership in T20Is (with Razmal Shigiwal), posting 123 vs Luxembourg.
Zeeshan Goraya, a dependable top order batsman who can shift gears when needed, has racked up 412 runs in 17 ECS innings and also scalped 24 wickets.
Shahil Momin, slow left arm orthodox, very talented, has a good cricketing brain and is a decent batsman as well. Has scored 90 runs and picked up 11 wickets in six ECS games. The all-rounder also mustered 61 runs on his T20I debut against Belgium earlier this year.
Abrar Bilal, attacking batsman, likes to take charge early in his innings, has fairly impressive ECS numbers scoring 420 runs in 21 innings. He can keep wicket and also roll his arm over when needed.
HUNGARY (HUN)
Captain: Marc Ahuja
Wicketkeeper: Satyadeep Aswathnarayan
Projected Top Order: Zeeshan Kukikhel, Harsh Mandhyan, Marc Ahuja, Zahir Safi Mohammed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Habib Deldar, Harsh Mandhyan, Abhishek Kheterpal and Asanka Weligamage
Spin Options: Harsh Mandhyan
HUNGARY Key Players:
Marc Ahuja, captain and key batsman, the Mumbai-born player has T20I experience and is the lynchpin of the batting line-up. A solid, anchor batsman, he starred in both the 2020 and 2021 ECS Hungary tournaments for back-to-back title winners, Royal Tigers.
Satyadeep Aswathnarayan, wicketkeeper and big-hitting batsman with T20I experience, he is a middle-order gun to watch out for.
Abhishek Kheterpal, right-arm fast bowler who loves taking the new ball and can swing it both ways, he is a genuine threat in the powerplay overs. He was the top wicket-taker in FanCode ECS Hungary 2021 with 14 wickets at an average of 10.00 and economy rate of 8.23.
Nisantha Liyanage, a key player for Budapest Blinders in their surge to the finals of FanCode ECS Hungary, the right-arm medium pacer finished with eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.58.
These two nations share a great imperial history. Austria has a win-loss record of 4-3 in T20Is this year while Hungary has only managed to win one of their four games. The two sides will be playing against each other for the first time in international cricket. Which country will come out on top in ECC21?
Match Prediction: Austria (AUT) to edge a narrow win.
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Group B | MATCH 5 (ECC21.029)
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI) v PORTUGAL (POR)
1500 GMT | 1700 CET | 2030 IST
NED XI Timeline: ECC DEBUT
POR Timeline: ECC DEBUT
NETHERLANDS XI (NED XI)
Captain: Sebastiaan Braat
Wicketkeeper: Asad Zulfiqar
Projected Top Order: Musa Nadeem Ahmad, Boris Gorlee, Navjit Singh, Victor Lubbers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein
Spin Options: Clayton Floyd, Julian de Mey
NETHERLANDS XI Key Players:
Sebastiaan Braat, skipper with six T20 international matches to his name. A dynamic, fast bowling all-rounder with vast experience facing top quality opposition.
Musa Nadeem Ahmad, star batsman in the recent FanCode ECS Netherlands Capelle with hosts Sparta Cricket 1888, hitting an unbeaten century on his way to 215 runs at an average of 43 and a SR of 193.69 in the tournament. He won the Man of the Match award three times in the tournament.
Vivian Kingma, fast bowler with international experience. He featured in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup squad. A capable new ball bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the pitch.
Max Hoornweg, right-arm medium pacer with previous experience of playing in the ECS with Sparta Cricket 1888. Hoornweg has 29 wickets in the domestic season in the Netherlands at an average of 22.55 with a best return of 5/37.
PORTUGAL (POR)
Captain: Najam Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Francoise Stoman
Projected Top Order: Azhar Andani, Sharon Gomez, Amir Zaib, Anthony Chambers
Projected Opening Bowlers: Junaid Khan, Najam Shahzad
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Amandeep Singh
PORTUGAL Key Players:
Najam Shahzad, star all-rounder, dependable batsman who can anchor the innings very well, has amassed 397 runs in 22 ECN games and picked up 14 wickets.
Azhar Andani, big hitting opening batsman, has a good T20I record mustering 276 runs in four matches, including 100 off 51 balls vs Gibraltar.
Amir Zaib, another valuable all-rounder, who has impressed in the T20Is mustering 106 runs and picking up FIVE wickets in four matches. Has vast ECN experience as well and will be keen to impress on the big stage.
Md Siraj Nipo, boasts a wealth of experience playing in ECN events, a classy batsman who bowls tidy left arm off spin. Hard to get away, he will be a key bowler for Portugal. Has scored 208 runs and picked up 33 wickets in 31 ECN matches.
Junaid Khan, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, the left arm quick has bagged SEVEN wickets in four T20Is. Has mustered 388 runs in 18 ECN games and picked up 17 wickets as well.
With the benefit of that earlier game to tune up and get used to the conditions, Team Netherlands are likely to prove too strong for Portugal here.
Match Prediction: Netherlands XI (NED XI) to win at a canter.
