ECS Croatia, 2025: Sir Oliver Split vs Rijeka Markhors – Match 18 Preview
Event: ECS Croatia, 2025
Match: Sir Oliver Split (SOS) vs Rijeka Markhors (RJM), Single Group Match Day 4, Match 18
Date: 14 August 2025
Start Time: 12:45 Local Time | 15:15 IST
Venue: Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb
Format: T10
Match Type: Group Match
Toss: Rijeka Markhors won the toss and elected to bat
Spotlight on the Stars: Who Will Shine Brightest?
- Most 6s Prediction:Anil Kumar (RJM) – With a career average of 2 sixes per match and 54 career sixes, Kumar is the clear power-hitter to watch.
- Most Runs Prediction:Anil Kumar (RJM) – Averaging 22 runs per match, Kumar leads all contenders in run-scoring consistency.
- Most Wickets Prediction:Jaspreet Singh (RJM), Oliver Tilley (SOS), Angus McMahon (SOS), Jatinder Vashisht (RJM) – All average 1 wicket per match, making this a tightly contested category.
- Match MVP Prediction:Jatinder Vashisht (RJM) – With a stellar 81 average fantasy points per match over his career, Vashisht is the top all-round fantasy performer.
Team Introductions & Key Stats
Rijeka Markhors (RJM)
- Team Colours: Black & Yellow
- Matches Played: 6
- Matches Won: 6
- Win Percentage: 100%
- Strongest Player (Career Avg. Fantasy Points): Jatinder Vashisht (81 per match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event Avg. Fantasy Points): Sahil Lal (103 per match)
- Top Six-Hitter: Anil Kumar (54 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Jatinder Vashisht (1 wicket per match, 19 career wickets)
The Markhors have been flawless so far, boasting a perfect record. Their squad is stacked with all-rounders and explosive batters, making them the team to beat.
Sir Oliver Split (SOS)
- Team Colours: Red & White
- Matches Played: 40
- Matches Won: 18
- Win Percentage: 45%
- Strongest Player (Career Avg. Fantasy Points): Luke Vukusic (55 per match)
- Strongest Player (Current Event Avg. Fantasy Points): Maanav Nayak (115 per match)
- Top Six-Hitter: Maanav Nayak (42 career sixes)
- Top Wicket-Taker: Maanav Nayak (6 three-wicket hauls, 80 matches)
Sir Oliver Split have a wealth of experience and a deep roster, but will need to bring their A-game to topple the unbeaten Markhors.
Player Highlights
Rijeka Markhors (RJM)
Jatinder Vashisht – All-Rounder
A true all-rounder, Vashisht is RJM’s fantasy juggernaut with 1,544 career points and an average of 81 per match. He’s delivered 556 batting points and 860 bowling points, with a career-best 270 in a single match. Vashisht’s 2 Player of the Match awards (10.5% ratio) underline his match-winning ability. In the current event, he’s averaging 85 points per match, with 19 sixes and 1 fifty already.
Anil Kumar – Batsman
Kumar is the Markhors’ six-hitting machine, with 54 career sixes and a top score of 78. He averages 66 fantasy points per match (career) and 60 in this event, with 356 event batting points. His 2 Player of the Match awards (8% ratio) and 33 career fours make him a consistent threat at the top.
Sahil Lal – Batsman
Lal is in red-hot form, averaging 103 fantasy points per match in this event and 51 over his career. With 37 career sixes and 44 fours, he’s a dynamic batter. His 4 Player of the Match awards (13.8% ratio) and 519 event batting points make him a must-watch.
Wasal Kamal – All-Rounder, Captain
Kamal brings balance as a captain and all-rounder, with 1,041 career fantasy points and 32 per match. He’s contributed 332 batting and 629 bowling points, with 3 three-wicket hauls. Kamal’s leadership and all-round skills are vital for RJM’s unbeaten run.
Sir Oliver Split (SOS)
Maanav Nayak – Bowler
Nayak is SOS’s all-round talisman, with 3,892 career fantasy points and a 49-point average. He’s hit 42 sixes and taken 6 three-wicket hauls, with 1,531 batting and 1,965 bowling points. Nayak’s 7 Player of the Match awards (8.7% ratio) and 115 average in this event make him a game-changer.
Luke Vukusic – Batsman
Vukusic is a consistent fantasy performer, averaging 55 points per match (career) and 31 in this event. With 12 sixes and 17 fours, he’s a reliable contributor. His 344 batting points and 222 bowling points highlight his all-round value.
Sam Houghton – Wicket-Keeper, Captain
Houghton is a veteran with 93 matches, 2,214 career fantasy points, and 24 per match. He’s hit 28 sixes, scored 1,131 batting points, and taken 31 catches. Houghton’s leadership and experience are crucial for SOS.
Oliver Tilley – Wicket-Keeper
Tilley is a dual-threat, averaging 64 fantasy points per match (career) and 61 in this event. He’s scored 413 batting and 631 bowling points, with a career-best 185 in a match. Tilley’s 1 Player of the Match award and 9 sixes make him a key player.
Key Player Matchups: Head-to-Head
Anil Kumar (RJM) vs Maanav Nayak (SOS):
- Kumar: 22 runs/match, 2 sixes/match, 66 fantasy points/match
- Nayak: 9 runs/match, 0 sixes/match, 49 fantasy points/match, 6 three-wicket hauls
Jatinder Vashisht (RJM) vs Luke Vukusic (SOS):
- Vashisht: 13 runs/match, 1 six/match, 81 fantasy points/match, 1 wicket/match
- Vukusic: 14 runs/match, 1 six/match, 55 fantasy points/match
Sahil Lal (RJM) vs Sam Houghton (SOS):
- Lal: 16 runs/match, 1 six/match, 51 fantasy points/match
- Houghton: 7 runs/match, 0 sixes/match, 24 fantasy points/match
Wasal Kamal (RJM) vs Oliver Tilley (SOS):
- Kamal: 4 runs/match, 0 sixes/match, 32 fantasy points/match, 19 bowling points/match
- Tilley: 11 runs/match, 0 sixes/match, 64 fantasy points/match, 35 bowling points/match
Captain & Vice-Captain Recommendations
Safe Choices:
- Jatinder Vashisht (RJM): Consistent all-rounder, high fantasy average, and proven match-winner.
- Maanav Nayak (SOS): High event average, multiple Player of the Match awards, and all-round impact.
Bold Picks:
- Sahil Lal (RJM): In top form this event, explosive with the bat.
- Oliver Tilley (SOS): High ceiling, strong with both bat and ball.
Insights & Key Matchups
- Rijeka Markhors enter as favourites, unbeaten and with multiple players in top form. Their batting firepower, led by Anil Kumar and Sahil Lal, is complemented by the all-round excellence of Jatinder Vashisht and Wasal Kamal.
- Sir Oliver Split will rely on the experience and all-round skills of Maanav Nayak and the consistency of Luke Vukusic and Sam Houghton. If their top order fires and bowlers like Tilley and Nayak strike early, they can challenge the Markhors’ dominance.
Potential Game-Changers:
- Jatinder Vashisht (RJM): Can swing the match with both bat and ball.
- Maanav Nayak (SOS): Capable of turning the game with a big spell or a quickfire knock.
- Sahil Lal (RJM): In red-hot form, could take the game away in a few overs.
- Oliver Tilley (SOS): All-round skills make him a wildcard.
Final Word
With Rijeka Markhors looking to extend their perfect run and Sir Oliver Split eager to upset the odds, Match 18 at Mladost Cricket Ground promises high-octane T10 action. Expect fireworks from the big hitters and crucial breakthroughs from the all-rounders as both teams vie for supremacy in ECS Croatia, 2025.
Stay tuned for what promises to be a thrilling contest!
- Jatinder Vashisht – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 81.0 – Rijeka Markhors
- Anil Kumar – Batsman – Avg. Points: 66.0 – Rijeka Markhors
- Oliver Tilley – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 64.0 – Sir Oliver Split
- Angus McMahon – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 59.0 – Sir Oliver Split
- Luke Vukusic – Batsman – Avg. Points: 55.0 – Sir Oliver Split
- Jaspreet Singh – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 51.0 – Rijeka Markhors
- Sahil Lal – Batsman – Avg. Points: 51.0 – Rijeka Markhors
- Maanav Nayak – Bowler – Avg. Points: 49.0 – Sir Oliver Split
- Sam Houghton – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 24.0 – Sir Oliver Split
- Sohail Ahmad – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 25.0 – Rijeka Markhors
- Shaik Siddu – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 22.0 – Sir Oliver Split
Number of players from each team:
- Sir Oliver Split: 6
- Rijeka Markhors: 5
Number of players from each skill type:
- All-Rounder: 5
- Batsman: 3
- Wicket-Keeper: 2
- Bowler: 1
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