Madrid United meet Levante in the second semi.

PREVIEW: Semi Final 2 – Madrid United vs. Levante - Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante

Madrid United meet Levante in the second semi. Two evenly-matched sides meet again after their truly historic first meeting ended with the first-ever GOLDEN BALL finish in cricketing history in the Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante group stages.

In the event of a tie, the new Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante Golden Ball regulation means the batting side remain at the crease and has to score two or more to force a win. In a historic moment for European Cricket, Waqar Zafar’s edge flew to the third man boundary of the GOLDEN BALL to hand an exhilarating victory to Madrid United.

So, it’s with mild understatement when we say there’s nothing to choose between the two sides. However, Levante have shown great nerve, after losing that Golden Ball finish, racking up successive high scoring run chases to secure a semi-final berth.

Furqan Zameer can find the boundary with ease, while Tariq Afridi has been a useful performer with bat and ball, bludgeoning 8 sixes in his 66 off 22 balls against La Manga, including four straight maximums. Ajmal Ilyas has also made vital contributions with bat and ball at crunch time, while Zain Ellahi was very much the man who outthought the Intellectuals.

Madrid United tinkered with their batting and bowling order when slipping to a sloppy defeat against La Manga. Madrid should return to full-strength against Levante with all-rounders Qadar Nawaz, Robiul Khan, Abdul Hafeez Niazi and Spanish international Tauqeer Hussain their go-to-men. Golden Ball hero Waqar Zafar is not to be underestimated and wily veteran Ittfaq Ahmed took two wickets in his only over to suddenly pull Madrid back into the game against the Pinatar Pirates.

This one is also too close to call but a slight preference should be given to Levante who have shown grit in chasing down a couple of high scores. In the semi-final, that dreaded scoreboard pressure may come into play again if the side batting first can post anything in the region of 115+ - provided the side bowling second can resist the heat in the field.