European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode Spanish Championship Weekend on Saturday 30 October.
Minhaj, Champions of the 2019 Catalunya T10, gained direct qualification after winning playoffs for ECL20 and ECL21. Unfortunately, MIN were unable to take their place after the postponement of both tournaments due to the Corona pandemic.
Pak I Care, another side from the Catalunya region, qualified for the Spanish National Finals after beating Ali Youngster CC in the Final of the ECL qualifiers - Catalunya T10. Runners-up at FanCode ECS Spain Barcelona 2020, PIC have been one of the standout teams in the ECN Barcelona events over the past two seasons. .
Hosts Sporting Alfas are the East Coast and Central League (ECCL) T20 champions. SPA are coming into this tournament on the back of an impressive showing in the FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas, topping the standings with six wins in eight matches. Sporting Alfas go into the tournament full of confidence and will fancy their chances of making it to ECL22 on home soil.
Formed in 2003, Costa Del Sol are the winners of the Southern Region T20 League 2021. With about 75 senior and 25 junior active members in the club, CDS play their league and social cricket at the picturesque Cartama Oval. Surrounded by the amazing backdrop of the Malaga mountains, Cartama Oval was the host venue of the inaugural Dream11 European Cricket Championship.
Teams
CDSCosta Del Sol (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MINMinhaj (0-0, NRR+0.000)
PICPak I Care (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SPASporting Alfas (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (SCW21.001)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA) v MINHAJ (MIN)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
SPA Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 84)
MIN Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 90)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA)
Captain: Phill Pennick
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Four: Awais Ahmed, Christian Munoz-Mills, Jack Perman, Jamie Roper
Projected Opening Bowlers: Waqar Ashraf, Ahmad Jamshaid
Spin Options: Jack Perman
SPORTING ALFAS Key Players:
Awais Ahmed, a well established opening batter for Spain, has performed exceptionally well scoring 1227 runs in 51 ECN matches. He is a great asset behind the wickets as well.
Jack Perman, the Spanish International has been in tremendous form with the bat scoring heavily in the ECC. He top scored for SPA in the just concluded FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas racking up 176 runs in eight games. He can also roll his arm and bowl some wrist spin.
Ahmad Jamshaid, the right arm medium pacer finished top wicket taker for SPA in the FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas picking up EIGHT wickets. He returned tournament best figures of 5-5 vs INT on Friday.
Christian Munoz-Mills, captain of Spanish National Team, a fine batter who scored over hundred runs in the ECC batting in the lower middle order. Looked in solid touch in the FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas as well cracking 75 runs in three games.
MINHAJ (MIN)
Captain: Amar Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Khizar Ali
Projected Top Order: Khizar Ali, Alumdar Hussain, Asjad Butt, Usman Mushtaq
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Riaz, Amar Shahzad
Spin Options: Alumdar Hussain, Usman Mushtaq
MINHAJ Key Players:
Asjad Butt, prolific run scorer, regularly going big in Barcelona events. Can clear the fence with ease and also chip in with useful wickets with the ball if needed. Has plenty of T10 experience racking up 783 runs in 29 ECS games mustering about 81% of his runs in boundaries.
Alumdar Hussain, the left handed opener has impressed in Barcelona events in the last two years. He has scored 294 ECS runs and can also bowl left arm medium pace, bringing variety to the MIN bowling lineup.
Usman Mushtaq, all-rounder, generally an anchor, he can play big shots if needed and is a handy off-spin bowler. He has scored 276 runs and picked up 10 wickets in 26 ECS matches.
Yasin Javaid, the right arm pacer finished as the leading wicket taker for Minhaj at ECS Barcelona earlier this year picking up 14 wickets in 10 matches with a best return of 3-6.
Sporting Alfas will be booming with confidence after winning the FanCode ECS L’Alfas. On the other hand, Minhaj haven't played competitive cricket in a while and lack match practice. Having said that, MIN are a far more experienced side and should get the job done.
Match Prediction: Minhaj (MIN) to win the tournament opener.
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MATCH 2 (SCW21.002)
COSTA DEL SOL (CDS) v PAK I CARE (PIC)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
CDS Last Five Matches: ECN DEBUT
PIC Last Five Matches: W W W W L (Avg Score For 109, Avg Score Against 80)
COSTA DEL SOL (CDS)
Captain: Richard Hatchman
WicketKeeper: Andrew Cromb
Projected Top Order: Richard Lake, Avinash Pai, Sameer Nayak, Lee Rimmer
Projected Opening Bowlers: Paul Edgeller, Sameer Nayak
Spin Options: Lorne Burns, Maanav Nayak, Ian Higgins
COSTA DEL SOL Key Players:
Richard Lake, the hard hitting opener with plenty of power, always has one eye on the boundary marker and doesn't waste time with dots or singles. He is also a tidy medium pace bowler and generally keeps the scoring rate in check.
Avinash Pai, a strong batter with a knack of scoring big runs, is technically gifted and has an incredible eye for the ball with an array of shots in his armoury. Expect to see some smart, stylish batting during the weekend.
Lorne Burns, a creative batter, never shy of bringing in a ramp or reverse sweep shot, a fine leg-spinner who can be damaging and often provides vital wickets when needed most.
Paul Edgeller, the big hitting fast bowling allrounder is a fine cricketer and is always up for a challenge. Expect fireworks if he gets into a groove.
PAK I CARE (PIC)
Captain: Muhammad Babar
Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Ihsan
Projected Top Order: Muhammad Ihsan, Muhammad Babar, Sikandar Ali, Aabid Mahboob
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Babar
Spin Options: Adeel Shafqat, Sikandar Ali
PAK I CARE Key Players:
Muhammad Ihsan, the experienced wicket keeper batter is one of the top run scorers in ECS plundering 1104 runs in 36 matches at staggering strike rate of 231.
Muhammad Kamran, canny left arm pacer, has good pace and loves bowling bouncers, has picked up 23 wickets at an ER of just 6.07. He can also hit the long ball and has mustered 474 runs with the bat.
Muhammad Babar, the skipper wil contribute with both bat and ball and has good numbers to show for his all-round skills, scoring 208 runs and picking up 10 wickets in 15 ECS matches.
Atif Muhammad, a proven left arm fast bowler, he has picked up 30 wickets in 32 ECS matches with a best return of 4-3.
Costa Del Sol make their first ECN appearance against a strong Pak I Care side. CDS have never played a T10 game before and might struggle against a hotly fancied PIC side with plenty of T10 experience.
Match Prediction: Pak I Care (PIC) to win at a canter.
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MATCH 3 (SCW21.003)
PAK I CARE (PIC) v MINHAJ (MIN)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
PIC Last Five Matches: W W W W L (Avg Score For 109, Avg Score Against 80)
MIN Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 90)
PAK I CARE (PIC)
Captain: Muhammad Babar
Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Ihsan
Projected Top Order: Muhammad Ihsan, Muhammad Babar, Sikandar Ali, Aabid Mahboob
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Babar
Spin Options: Adeel Shafqat, Sikandar Ali
PAK I CARE Key Players:
Muhammad Ihsan, the experienced wicket keeper batter is one of the top run scorers in ECS plundering 1104 runs in 36 matches at staggering strike rate of 231.
Muhammad Kamran, canny left arm pacer, has good pace and loves bowling bouncers, has picked up 23 wickets at an ER of just 6.07. He can also hit the long ball and has mustered 474 runs with the bat.
Muhammad Babar, the skipper wil contribute with both bat and ball and has good numbers to show for his all-round skills, scoring 208 runs and picking up 10 wickets in 15 ECS matches.
Atif Muhammad, a proven left arm fast bowler, he has picked up 30 wickets in 32 ECS matches with a best return of 4-3.
MINHAJ (MIN)
Captain: Amar Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Khizar Ali
Projected Top Order: Khizar Ali, Alumdar Hussain, Asjad Butt, Usman Mushtaq
Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Riaz, Amar Shahzad
Spin Options: Alumdar Hussain, Usman Mushtaq
MINHAJ Key Players:
Asjad Butt, prolific run scorer, regularly going big in Barcelona events. Can clear the fence with ease and also chip in with useful wickets with the ball if needed. Has plenty of T10 experience racking up 783 runs in 29 ECS games mustering about 81% of his runs in boundaries.
Alumdar Hussain, the left handed opener has impressed in Barcelona events in the last two years. He has scored 294 ECS runs and can also bowl left arm medium pace, bringing variety to the MIN bowling lineup.
Usman Mushtaq, all-rounder, generally an anchor, he can play big shots if needed and is a handy off-spin bowler. He has scored 276 runs and picked up 10 wickets in 26 ECS matches.
Yasin Javaid, the right arm pacer finished as the leading wicket taker for Minhaj at ECS Barcelona earlier this year picking up 14 wickets in 10 matches with a best return of 3-6.
Pak I Care and Minhaj are two of the vastly experienced T10 sides having featured in the ECS tournaments in the last two years. The two sides have only met once before with PIC beating MIN in a one-sided affair.
Last time they met: PIC 50(4.1) def MIN 46 (9 Nov 2020)
Match Prediction: Pak I Care (PIC) to edge a narrow win.
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MATCH 4 (SCW21.004)
COSTA DEL SOL (CDS) v SPORTING ALFAS (SPA)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
CDS Last Five Matches: ECN DEBUT
SPA Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 84)
COSTA DEL SOL (CDS)
Captain: Richard Hatchman
WicketKeeper: Andrew Cromb
Projected Top Order: Richard Lake, Avinash Pai, Sameer Nayak, Lee Rimmer
Projected Opening Bowlers: Paul Edgeller, Sameer Nayak
Spin Options: Lorne Burns, Maanav Nayak, Ian Higgins
COSTA DEL SOL Key Players:
Richard Lake, the hard hitting opener with plenty of power, always has one eye on the boundary marker and doesn't waste time with dots or singles. He is also a tidy medium pace bowler and generally keeps the scoring rate in check.
Avinash Pai, a strong batter with a knack of scoring big runs, is technically gifted and has an incredible eye for the ball with an array of shots in his armoury. Expect to see some smart, stylish batting during the weekend.
Lorne Burns, a creative batter, never shy of bringing in a ramp or reverse sweep shot, a fine leg-spinner who can be damaging and often provides vital wickets when needed most.
Paul Edgeller, the big hitting fast bowling allrounder is a fine cricketer and is always up for a challenge. Expect fireworks if he gets into a groove.
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA)
Captain: Phill Pennick
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Four: Awais Ahmed, Christian Munoz-Mills, Jack Perman, Jamie Roper
Projected Opening Bowlers: Waqar Ashraf, Ahmad Jamshaid
Spin Options: Jack Perman
SPORTING ALFAS Key Players:
Awais Ahmed, a well established opening batter for Spain, has performed exceptionally well scoring 1227 runs in 51 ECN matches. He is a great asset behind the wickets as well.
Jack Perman, the Spanish International has been in tremendous form with the bat scoring heavily in the ECC. He top scored for SPA in the just concluded FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas racking up 176 runs in eight games. He can also roll his arm and bowl some wrist spin.
Ahmad Jamshaid, the right arm medium pacer finished top wicket taker for SPA in the FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas picking up EIGHT wickets. He returned tournament best figures of 5-5 vs INT on Friday.
Christian Munoz-Mills, captain of Spanish National Team, a fine batter who scored over hundred runs in the ECC batting in the lower middle order. Looked in solid touch in the FanCode ECS Spain L’Alfas as well cracking 75 runs in three games.
Costa Del Sol shocked Pak I Care earlier in the day and will be booming with confidence. Sporting Alfas looked hapless against a strong Minhaj batting lineup losing by a whopping 80 runs. SPA will be keen to move on from that loss as soon as possible because a slip up here will make things difficult for them.
Match Prediction: Sporting Alfas (SPA) to win a close contest.
