The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Barcelona encounter between Gracia and Joves Units.
Tune in to the live action Thursday from 8:30am CET * 7:30am UK/GMT * 12:30pm IST from the Montjuïc ground in Barcelona, Spain.
Team Preview for Gracia
Gracia CC were one of the form teams of 2019, with the second-best record in the whole of the Liga Catalana in a season that saw them winning 19 and only losing three T20 matches. Unfortunately, they have really struggled in the ECS, winning only one of their five matches to this point. They did win their last time out so they do have the potential to finish on a winning streak with back-to-back contests to wind up their campaign on Thursday morning.
Captain: Heera Mahey
Main Wicketkeeper: Kuldeep Lal
Key Players:
Mukhtiar Singh has been their most influential player when he gets on the park. He has picked up six wickets as well as being destructive with the bat when he has had opportunities got an opportunity. He’d want to end the series with a bang.
Kuldeep Singh hasn’t quite recaptured the form that saw him become the leading run-scorer at the first-ever European Cricket Series back in March but he does have the potential to make a big score if he gets settled so Joves Units will want to see the back of him early.
Alumdar Hussain opened the batting in the last match, going six and out! I hope gets another opportunity at the top of the order because he can clear the ropes so should be an effective powerplay weapon if he can evade early dismissal.
Team Preview for Joves Units
Joves Units CC finish their tournament with this match. They have had a somewhat lacklustre experience, winning only two of their six matches, but broke out in their last appearance, scoring a series high 171 runs in their ten overs. Can they keep up that kind of pace on their final day of action?
Captain: Babar Basharat
Main Wicketkeeper: Abdul Rehman Ullah
Key Players:
Shahid Nazir set the tournament on fire on Tuesday with the first and only century out of over fifty matches in Barcelona. That innings of 116 not out came off only 34 deliveries and included an astonishing 14 maximos! He would love to reproduce some of those fireworks in the final match of their campaign but it’s never easy to make lightning strike twice!
Usman Mushtaq has been very effective since coming into the side. He opened the batting and made 42 on debut against Pak Montcada as well as picking up five wickets on Tuesday so he will be a potent weapon for Joves Units.
Babar Basharat captains the side. He was a great foil for Nazir in that huge partnership against Men in Blue. After coming in at 21/4 the two put on 150 runs unbeaten which is an ECS record for the fifth wicket with the skipper contributing 35 of those runs.
Mr Maximo’s tip: GRACIA
As I have mentioned previously, I really fancied Gracia going into this series but regrettably they have let me down whenever I have tipped them to win. Joves Units haven’t been fantastic either for the most part although few will forget their stunning recovery against Men in Blue on the way to a huge victory on Tuesday. My instinct tells me they won’t be able to recapture that kind of form and for some reason I find myself predicting Gracia to win this one, although I’ll be taking a good hard look at myself if they let me down again! The unpredictability of this tournament has made it essential viewing, so don’t miss out – tune in to the European Cricket Network on Thursday as we wrap up the preliminary matches before Finals Friday fever hits Barcelona!
