ECI Croatia-Cyprus, 2025: CRO vs CYP – Match 3 Preview

Event: ECI Croatia-Cyprus, 2025
Match: Croatia (CRO) vs Cyprus (CYP), Single Group Match Day 1, Match 3
Date: 9 August 2025
Start Time: 13:15 Local Time | 15:45 IST
Venue: Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb
Format: T10
Match Type: Group Match
Toss: Cyprus won the toss and elected to bat

---

Spotlight on the Stars: Who Will Shine Brightest?

• Most 6s Prediction:
  Zach Vukusic (CRO) – With a career average of 3 sixes per match, Vukusic is the clear favorite to clear the ropes most often.

• Most Runs Prediction:
  Zach Vukusic (CRO) – Averaging 30 runs per match, he leads all players in career average runs.

• Most Wickets Prediction:
  No player in this match has a career average of more than 1 wicket per match, but Harpreet Jhalli (CRO) stands out with 1 wicket per match from his brief career.

• Match MVP Prediction:
  Zach Vukusic (CRO) – With a remarkable 92 average fantasy points per match, he is the top all-round fantasy performer.

---

Team Introductions & Key Stats

Croatia (CRO)

• Matches Played: 43
• Matches Won: 8
• Win Percentage: 18.6%
• Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg): Zach Vukusic (92 per match)
• Strongest Player (Current Event Fantasy Avg): Zach Vukusic (50 per match)
• Top Six-Hitter: Zach Vukusic (25 career sixes, 3 per match)
• Top Wicket-Taker: Harpreet Jhalli (1 wicket per match, 2 wickets in 2 matches)

Cyprus (CYP)

• Matches Played: 32
• Matches Won: 8
• Win Percentage: 25%
• Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg): Scott Burdekin (87 per match)
• Strongest Player (Current Event Fantasy Avg): Roshan Siriwardena (44 per match)
• Top Six-Hitter: Scott Burdekin (105 career sixes, 2 per match)
• Top Wicket-Taker: Aminul Islam (most wickets in a match: 4, 3 three-wicket hauls)

---

Player Highlights

Croatia (CRO)

Zach Vukusic – All-Rounder (Captain)

Vukusic is Croatia’s talisman, boasting a staggering 92 average fantasy points per match and 50 per match in the current event. With 25 sixes in just 7 matches (3 per match) and a career average of 30 runs per match, he is both a power-hitter and a consistent run-scorer. His top score of 76 and two career fifties underline his ability to dominate T10 cricket. Vukusic has also claimed 2 Player of the Match awards, with a high award ratio of 0.29.

Aman Chaubey – All-Rounder

Aman Chaubey brings balance to the side, with 39 average fantasy points per match and 34 in the current event. He has contributed 21 sixes and 15 fours in his career, and while his batting average is modest (5 runs per match), his bowling (23 fantasy points per match) and fielding (2 points per match) make him a valuable all-round asset. He has 1 Player of the Match award to his name.

Rashid Hashmi – Wicket-Keeper

Hashmi is a reliable presence behind the stumps and with the bat, averaging 32 fantasy points per match over 46 games. He has 33 sixes and 47 fours, with a top score of 54. His fielding is a standout, with 19 catches and 9 stumpings, and he has 4 Player of the Match awards (0.09 ratio).

Oliver Tilley – Batsman

Tilley has made an immediate impact, averaging 54 fantasy points per match in his 6-match career. He has already scored a fifty (top score 83) and hit 6 sixes, with a high of 185 fantasy points in a single match. Tilley’s Player of the Match ratio is an impressive 0.17.

---

Cyprus (CYP)

Scott Burdekin – All-Rounder (Captain)

Burdekin is Cyprus’s premier all-rounder, with 87 average fantasy points per match and 22 in the current event. He is a six-hitting machine (105 sixes, 2 per match) and a prolific run-scorer (29 per match, top score 112). With 7 Player of the Match awards (0.17 ratio), he is a proven match-winner.

Roshan Siriwardena – Batsman

Siriwardena is a consistent performer, averaging 27 fantasy points per match and 44 in the current event. He has 36 sixes and 40 fours, with a top score of 85. Siriwardena’s all-round value is enhanced by his 1372 bowling fantasy points and 5 career catches.

Mangala Gunasekara – All-Rounder

Gunasekara is a dynamic all-rounder with 63 average fantasy points per match and a career total of 4707 fantasy points. He has 120 sixes and 131 fours, and 6 fifties in 75 matches. With 13 Player of the Match awards (0.17 ratio), he is a true game-changer.

Aminul Islam – Bowler

Islam is Cyprus’s leading wicket-taker, with 1033 bowling fantasy points and a best of 4 wickets in a match. He averages 27 fantasy points per match and 10 in the current event, and has 4 Player of the Match awards.

---

Key Player Matchups: Head-to-Head

• Power Hitters:

  • Zach Vukusic (CRO): 3 sixes/match, 30 runs/match
  • Scott Burdekin (CYP): 2 sixes/match, 29 runs/match
  • Both are capable of explosive starts; Vukusic edges ahead in sixes and fantasy points.

• All-Round Impact:

  • Aman Chaubey (CRO): 39 fantasy points/match
  • Mangala Gunasekara (CYP): 63 fantasy points/match
  • Gunasekara’s all-round numbers are superior, but Chaubey’s recent form is notable.

• Bowling Threats:

  • Harpreet Jhalli (CRO): 1 wicket/match
  • Aminul Islam (CYP): 3 three-wicket hauls, 4 wickets in a match (career best)
  • Islam’s experience and wicket-taking ability make him a key threat.

---

Captain & Vice-Captain Fantasy Picks

Safe Choices:

• Captain: Zach Vukusic (CRO) – Highest fantasy average, sixes, and runs.
• Vice-Captain: Scott Burdekin (CYP) – Consistent all-rounder, high sixes, and match-winning ability.

Bold Choices:

• Captain: Mangala Gunasekara (CYP) – High ceiling, multiple Player of the Match awards.
• Vice-Captain: Oliver Tilley (CRO) – High single-match fantasy potential.

---

Insights & Key Matchups

• Zach Vukusic vs Scott Burdekin: The battle of the six-hitters and fantasy giants could decide the match. Both are capable of single-handedly changing the game’s momentum.
• All-Rounders’ Duel: Gunasekara’s experience and Chaubey’s recent form will be crucial in the middle overs.
• Bowling X-Factors: Aminul Islam’s knack for breakthroughs and Harpreet Jhalli’s early impact could be pivotal in the T10 format.

Potential Game-Changers:

• Zach Vukusic (CRO): For his all-round dominance and explosive batting.
• Scott Burdekin (CYP): For his ability to contribute in all departments.
• Mangala Gunasekara (CYP): For his match-winning pedigree.
• Oliver Tilley (CRO): For his high-impact performances in a short career.

---

Final Word

With both teams boasting explosive batters and proven all-rounders, Match 3 of the ECI Croatia-Cyprus, 2025 promises to be a high-octane T10 contest. Cyprus’s decision to bat first could set the tone, but Croatia’s power-hitters and all-rounders are more than capable of chasing down any target. Expect fireworks at Mladost Cricket Ground as these two sides battle for early supremacy in the group stage.