ECS Croatia, 2025 – ZAS vs SOS: Finals Match Day 1, Match 21 (Eliminator) – Pre-Match Analysis

Event: ECS Croatia, 2025
Match: Zagreb Sokol (ZAS) vs Sir Oliver Split (SOS)
Match Number: 21 (Eliminator)
Date: 15 August 2025
Start Time: 08:45 Local Time | 11:15 IST
Venue: Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb
Format: T10
Toss: Zagreb Sokol won the toss and elected to bat

Spotlight: Predicted Standouts

  • Most 6s:Saghar Manzoor (ZAS), Izaz Ali (ZAS), Sakib Hossen (ZAS) – All average 1.0 six per match, leading the field.
  • Most Runs:Sakib Hossen (ZAS) – Career average of 20 runs per match, the highest among all players.
  • Most Wickets:Oliver Tilley (SOS), Angus McMahon (SOS), Maanav Nayak (SOS) – Each averages 1.0 wicket per match, topping the bowling charts.
  • Match MVP:Oliver Tilley (SOS) – Career average of 71 fantasy points per match, the highest in this contest.

Team Introductions

Zagreb Sokol (ZAS)

  • Matches Played: 67 | Wins: 38 | Win %: 56.7%
  • Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg):Izaz Ali (63 points/match)
  • Strongest Player (Current Event Fantasy Avg):Sakib Hossen (66 points/match)
  • Top Six-Hitter:Saghar Manzoor (72 career sixes)
  • Top Wicket-Taker:Aman Chaubey (1139 career bowling fantasy points)

Sir Oliver Split (SOS)

  • Matches Played: 42 | Wins: 18 | Win %: 42.9%
  • Strongest Player (Career Fantasy Avg):Oliver Tilley (71 points/match)
  • Strongest Player (Current Event Fantasy Avg):Maanav Nayak (127 points/match)
  • Top Six-Hitter:Maanav Nayak (43 career sixes)
  • Top Wicket-Taker:Maanav Nayak (2108 career bowling fantasy points)

Player Highlights

Zagreb Sokol (ZAS)

Izaz Ali – All-Rounder

A true all-rounder, Izaz Ali boasts an impressive 63 fantasy points per match over his 53-match career, with 3313 total points. He’s a proven match-winner, with 7 Player of the Match awards (13.2% of matches). With 68 sixes and 72 fours, he’s a boundary machine, and his 1781 batting fantasy points are complemented by 1204 bowling points. While his current event numbers are slightly down (39 avg), his career pedigree makes him a key threat.

Saghar Manzoor – Batsman

Saghar Manzoor is ZAS’s six-hitting machine, with 72 career sixes and 100 fours. He averages 43 fantasy points per match (2413 total), and his 2101 batting fantasy points are among the highest in the squad. With 7 Player of the Match awards (12.5% of matches), he’s a proven performer, and his current event form (48 avg) suggests he’s peaking at the right time.

Sakib Hossen – All-Rounder

Sakib Hossen is ZAS’s most consistent run-scorer, averaging 20 runs per match and 43 batting fantasy points per match (1029 total). He’s also a handy bowler, with 396 bowling fantasy points. His current event form is outstanding, averaging 66 fantasy points per match, making him a top candidate for MVP honors.

Rashid Hashmi – Wicket-Keeper

With 2198 career fantasy points and 6 Player of the Match awards, Rashid Hashmi is a reliable wicket-keeper-batter. He’s hit 55 sixes and 72 fours, and his 27 career catches and 10 stumpings highlight his all-round value. His current event average of 56 fantasy points per match underlines his importance to ZAS.

Sir Oliver Split (SOS)

Oliver Tilley – Wicket-Keeper

SOS’s fantasy juggernaut, Tilley averages 71 points per match (1353 total) and is the only player in this match with a four-wicket haul. His 831 bowling fantasy points and 414 batting points show his all-round prowess. With a highest match score of 185 fantasy points, he’s a genuine game-changer, and his current event average (79) is even higher.

Maanav Nayak – Bowler

Nayak is the engine of SOS, with a staggering 4099 career fantasy points and 8 Player of the Match awards. He’s a wicket-taking machine (2108 bowling points, 6 three-wicket hauls, 1 four-wicket haul) and a dangerous lower-order batter (43 sixes, 86 fours). His current event form is red-hot, averaging 127 fantasy points per match.

Sam Houghton – Wicket-Keeper

SOS’s captain and most experienced player, Houghton has 2339 career fantasy points and 2 Player of the Match awards. He’s a reliable contributor with the bat (1237 batting points, 32 sixes) and in the field (33 catches). His current event average of 44 fantasy points per match makes him a steady pick.

Angus McMahon – All-Rounder

A rising all-rounder, McMahon averages 59 fantasy points per match (474 total) and has a three-wicket haul to his name. His 321 bowling points and 93 batting points show his dual threat, and his current event form (59 avg) is consistent with his career numbers.

Key Player Matchups: Head-to-Head

  • Best Batter vs Best Bowler:

    • Sakib Hossen (ZAS) vs Maanav Nayak (SOS)
      • Hossen: 20 runs/match, 43 batting fantasy points/match
      • Nayak: 1 wicket/match, 26 bowling fantasy points/match, 127 event fantasy avg

  • Six-Hitters:

    • Saghar Manzoor (ZAS) (72 sixes) vs Maanav Nayak (SOS) (43 sixes)
      • Both are capable of clearing the ropes, but Manzoor’s consistency gives ZAS an edge.

  • All-Rounders:

    • Izaz Ali (ZAS) (63 fantasy avg) vs Oliver Tilley (SOS) (71 fantasy avg)
      • Both are high-impact, but Tilley’s current event form (79 avg) is slightly superior.

Captain & Vice-Captain Recommendations

Safe Picks

  • Maanav Nayak (SOS): Red-hot form, highest event fantasy average, and a proven match-winner.
  • Oliver Tilley (SOS): Consistent all-rounder, high fantasy ceiling, and reliable wicket-taker.

Bold Picks

  • Saghar Manzoor (ZAS): Explosive batter, capable of a match-winning knock.
  • Sakib Hossen (ZAS): High run potential and strong current event form.

Insights & Key Matchups

  • Potential Game-Changers:

    • Maanav Nayak (SOS): His all-round ability and current form make him the most likely to swing the match.
    • Saghar Manzoor (ZAS): If he gets going, his six-hitting can change the game in a few overs.
    • Oliver Tilley (SOS): With both bat and ball, Tilley’s impact is unmatched.
    • Izaz Ali (ZAS): A proven performer with both bat and ball, Ali’s experience could be crucial in a knockout scenario.

  • Fantasy X-Factors:

    • Angus McMahon (SOS): Consistent all-rounder, could be a differential pick.
    • Rashid Hashmi (ZAS): Wicket-keeper with a knack for big performances.

Conclusion

With both teams boasting explosive batters and dynamic all-rounders, the Eliminator promises high-octane action. Zagreb Sokol’s power-hitters and Sir Oliver Split’s all-round depth set the stage for a thrilling contest. Expect fireworks from the likes of Manzoor, Hossen, Nayak, and Tilley as they vie for a place in the next round of ECS Croatia, 2025.

Stay tuned for what promises to be a pulsating T10 encounter at the Mladost Cricket Ground!

  1. Oliver Tilley – Wicket-Keeper – Avg. Points: 71.0 – SOS
  2. Sakib Hossen – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 65.0 – ZAS
  3. Izaz Ali – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 63.0 – ZAS
  4. Angus McMahon – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 59.0 – SOS
  5. Jalal Miah – Bowler – Avg. Points: 51.0 – ZAS
  6. Maanav Nayak – Bowler – Avg. Points: 51.0 – SOS
  7. Ahamed Toukir – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 48.0 – ZAS
  8. Saghar Manzoor – Batsman – Avg. Points: 43.0 – ZAS
  9. Gurpreet Singh – Batsman – Avg. Points: 42.0 – ZAS
  10. Md Al Mamun – Batsman – Avg. Points: 39.0 – SOS
  11. Aman Chaubey – All-Rounder – Avg. Points: 38.0 – ZAS

Number of players from each team:

  • Zagreb Sokol (ZAS): 7
  • Sir Oliver Split (SOS): 4

Number of players from each skill type:

  • All-Rounder: 5
  • Batsman: 3
  • Bowler: 2
  • Wicket-Keeper: 1

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