The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Barcelona encounter between Bengali and Kings.
Tune in to the live action Wednesday from 8:30am CET * 7:30am UK/GMT * 12:30pm IST from the Montjuïc ground in Barcelona, Spain.
Team Preview for Bengali
Bengali CC are unfortunately the only team out of the 16 in Barcelona to not yet register a win in the tournament. They got tantalisingly close on opening day against Fateh, tying the game in regulation before going down in the golden ball tiebreaker, the only one so far in the series. They play their final two group matches first up on Wednesday and I’m sure they would be desperate to go out of the tournament in a winning fashion.
Captain: Riaz Howlader
Main Wicketkeeper: Shafiqur Rahman
Key Players:
Riaz Howlader generally bats in the middle order and will captain the side. He was by far their best batsman in their last game against top team United Girona, top scoring with 36 not out which constituted over half of their team total. Earlier in the series he was doing his talking with the ball, taking 4 for 14 on opening day against the Catalunya Tigers. He has led his side admirably without success as yet, but he'll be hoping that can all change in this match.
Omar Ali will open the batting for the Kings. He is a good player but has struggled to convert starts in the series. He will be hungry to improve on his top score of 38 in Barcelona.
Mosaraf Hossain has been a revelation at the top of the order! Promoted to open the innings he scored 68 off 29 balls against Pakcelona last Thursday, albeit in a losing cause.
Team Preview for Kings
Bangladesh Kings have been very impressive in their first six matches, dropping only one of them along the way to sit second on the ladder, where they are likely to stay regardless of the outcome of this match. Still, with Finals Friday right around the corner, they will want to keep up the good form. They will again miss the services of their one of their shining lights, Kamrul Islam Foysol but will hope to have him back before Finals Friday.
Captain: Moshiur Rahman
Main Wicketkeeper: Jubed Miah
Key Players:
Jubed Miah is a wicketkeeper and opening batsman. He is now the leading run-scorer for the Kings, with 141 runs for the series. He was in good form last match, striking an unbeaten 40 off 22 balls to see his team home.
Moyez Uddin comes into the side. He has been struggling with recurring back issues but is a very experienced cricketer who will add something to the Kings with the bat.
Moshiur Rahman hasn’t quite reproduced his Liga Catalana form in this series but has still done a job for the Kings in Barcelona. He shoulders the massive responsibility of leading the Bangladeshis as they head towards their do-or-die clash on Finals Friday.
Mr Maximo’s tip: BENGALI
UPSET ALERT! My tipping form has been woeful so I thought I would predict a Thursday surprise. Kings have sewn up their top two spot in Group A and with it a spot in the semi-finals, so would rightly go into this match as hot favourites. Bengali have not won a match yet so I think they’ll be the hungrier team in this contest and may just pull it off against a Kings CC team which may just have shifted their eyes on a bigger prize. Tune in to see if my hunch pays off – this game will be telecast live as always on the European Cricket Network, the first of four matches on Wednesday.
