ECN Croatia-Cyprus T20I, 2025: CRO vs CYP – 1st T20I Pre-Match Analysis
Event: ECN Croatia-Cyprus T20I, 2025
Match: Croatia (CRO) vs Cyprus (CYP), Single Group Match Day 1, Match 1 (1st T20I)
Date: 7 August 2025
Start Time: 09:00 Local Time (Zagreb) | 11:30 IST
Venue: Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb
Format: T20
Toss: Croatia won the toss and elected to field
Match Type: Group Match
Spotlight on the Stars: Who Will Shine Brightest?
As the ECN Croatia-Cyprus T20I, 2025 kicks off with its opening encounter, all eyes turn to the Mladost Cricket Ground in Zagreb for what promises to be a thrilling contest between Croatia and Cyprus. With both teams eager to set the tone for their campaigns, individual brilliance could well decide the outcome.
Predicted Standouts
- Most Sixes:Zach Vukusic (CRO) – With a career average of 3 sixes per match, Vukusic is the clear favourite to clear the ropes most often.
- Most Runs:Zach Vukusic (CRO) – Averaging 35 runs per match, he is also the leading candidate to top-score.
- Most Wickets:Hariprasad Sathedeevi (CRO), Waqar Ali (CYP), and Roshan Siriwardena (CYP) – All have significant bowling fantasy points, but Sathedeevi’s all-round numbers and Waqar Ali’s five-wicket haul potential make them ones to watch.
- Match MVP:Zach Vukusic (CRO) – With a staggering 109 average fantasy points per match, he is the most likely to dominate the fantasy charts.
Team Introductions & Key Stats
Croatia (CRO)
- Matches Played: 38
- Matches Won: 7
- Win Percentage: 18.4%
- Strongest Player (Avg. Fantasy Points/Match): Zach Vukusic (109)
- Best Batter (Most Career Sixes): Zach Vukusic (19 sixes in 5 matches; 3 per match)
- Best Bowler (Most Career Wickets): Hariprasad Sathedeevi (2 three-wicket hauls, 886 bowling fantasy points)
Cyprus (CYP)
- Matches Played: 27
- Matches Won: 4
- Win Percentage: 14.8%
- Strongest Player (Avg. Fantasy Points/Match): Scott Burdekin (90)
- Best Batter (Most Career Sixes): Mangala Gunasekara (120 sixes in 73 matches; 1 per match)
- Best Bowler (Most Career Wickets): Waqar Ali (5-wicket haul, 1556 bowling fantasy points)
Player Highlights
Croatia (CRO)
Zach Vukusic – All-Rounder
Vukusic is Croatia’s talisman, boasting an extraordinary average of 109 fantasy points per match. His batting is explosive, with 19 sixes in just 5 matches and a top score of 76. He’s also contributed with the ball and in the field, making him a true all-round threat. With a Player of the Match award in 20% of his games, he’s a proven match-winner.
Sam Houghton – Wicket-Keeper
With 80 matches under his belt, Houghton brings experience and consistency. He has accumulated 1974 career fantasy points, with a high of 172 in a single match. His 28 sixes and 49 fours underline his batting prowess, while 22 catches and a stumping highlight his value behind the stumps.
Saghar Manzoor – Batsman
Manzoor is a reliable top-order batter with 54 sixes and 71 fours in 46 matches. He’s scored 1834 fantasy points, with a high of 140 in a match, and has been named Player of the Match four times. His ability to anchor and accelerate makes him a key figure.
Hariprasad Sathedeevi – Batsman/All-Rounder
Sathedeevi is a genuine all-rounder, with 2033 career fantasy points and a high of 198 in a match. He’s hit 41 sixes and taken 15 catches, and his 886 bowling fantasy points show his impact with the ball. With a Player of the Match award to his name, he’s a potential game-changer.
Cyprus (CYP)
Scott Burdekin – All-Rounder (Captain)
Burdekin is Cyprus’s heartbeat, with 3529 career fantasy points and a 90-point average per match. He’s hammered 103 sixes and 107 fours, with a top score of 112. His all-round skills are further highlighted by 653 bowling fantasy points and 13 catches. With 7 Player of the Match awards, he’s a proven performer.
Mangala Gunasekara – All-Rounder
Gunasekara is a six-hitting machine, with 120 sixes and 131 fours in 73 matches. He’s amassed 4705 fantasy points and 3073 batting fantasy points, with a high of 282 in a single match. His 13 Player of the Match awards underline his match-winning ability.
Roman Mazumder – Wicket-Keeper
Mazumder is a consistent performer, with 3497 fantasy points in 106 matches. He’s hit 57 sixes and 162 fours, and his 16 catches add value in the field. With 7 Player of the Match awards, he’s a reliable fantasy pick.
Waqar Ali – Bowler
Ali is Cyprus’s leading wicket-taker, with 1556 bowling fantasy points and a five-wicket haul to his name. He’s also contributed with the bat and in the field, making him a valuable all-round fantasy option.
Key Player Matchups: Head-to-Head
- Zach Vukusic (CRO) vs Scott Burdekin (CYP): Both are explosive all-rounders and fantasy juggernauts. Vukusic’s higher sixes-per-match rate (3.0) edges Burdekin (2.0), but Burdekin’s experience and consistency make this a marquee battle.
- Hariprasad Sathedeevi (CRO) vs Waqar Ali (CYP): Both are leading bowlers for their sides, with Sathedeevi’s all-round skills and Ali’s wicket-taking ability (including a five-wicket haul) making this a contest to watch.
- Sam Houghton (CRO) vs Roman Mazumder (CYP): The wicket-keepers bring both batting and fielding value, with Mazumder’s higher match count and fantasy points suggesting a slight edge.
Captain & Vice-Captain Recommendations
Safe Choices:
- Zach Vukusic (CRO): Highest average fantasy points per match, explosive with bat and ball.
- Scott Burdekin (CYP): Consistent all-rounder, high fantasy ceiling, and proven match-winner.
Bold Picks:
- Mangala Gunasekara (CYP): Six-hitting prowess and all-round skills make him a high-upside pick.
- Hariprasad Sathedeevi (CRO): All-round contributions and big-match temperament.
Insights & Key Matchups
Potential Game-Changers:
- Zach Vukusic could dominate with both bat and ball, given his fantasy and six-hitting stats.
- Scott Burdekin and Mangala Gunasekara are the backbone of Cyprus, capable of turning the match with their all-round abilities.
- Waqar Ali’s wicket-taking potential could be crucial, especially if Croatia’s top order gets going.
- Sam Houghton and Roman Mazumder could swing the game with their dual roles as wicket-keepers and middle-order batters.
Fantasy Focus:
- All-rounders are likely to be the highest point-scorers, given their ability to contribute in all facets.
- Batters with high sixes-per-match rates (Vukusic, Gunasekara) are prime picks for explosive returns.
Conclusion
The opening match of the ECN Croatia-Cyprus T20I, 2025 is set to be a high-octane contest, with both teams boasting players capable of single-handedly changing the game. With Croatia electing to field first, early wickets and power-hitting will be the order of the day. Expect fireworks from the likes of Vukusic, Burdekin, and Gunasekara, and keep an eye on the all-rounders for fantasy glory. Let the T20 action begin in Zagreb!
- Zach Vukusic – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 109.0 – CRO
- Scott Burdekin – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 90.0 – CYP
- Oliver Tilley – Batsman – Avg. Points: 65.0 – CRO
- Mangala Gunasekara – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 64.0 – CYP
- Charles Bevin – Batsman – Avg. Points: 56.0 – CRO
- Hariprasad Sathedeevi – Batsman – Avg. Points: 44.0 – CRO
- Saghar Manzoor – Batsman – Avg. Points: 40.0 – CRO
- Scott Bevin – Bowler – Avg. Points: 34.0 – CRO
- Roman Mazumder – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 33.0 – CYP
- Roshan Siriwardena – Batsman – Avg. Points: 27.0 – CYP
- Sam Houghton – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 25.0 – CRO
Number of players from each team:
- Croatia (CRO): 7
- Cyprus (CYP): 4
Number of players from each skill type:
- All-Rounder: 3
- Batsman: 5
- Bowler: 1
- Wicket-Keeper: 2
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