The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Cyprus encounter between Riyaan CC and Nicosia Tigers.
Tune in to the live action Monday from 9am CEST * 8am UK * 7am GMT * 12:30pm IST from the Ypsonas Cricket Ground in Cyprus.
Team Preview for Riyaan CC
Riyaan CC have been in strong from in the Cyprus T20 competition, but this is their first foray into the European Cricket Series ten over format. They have the services of Atta Ullah, who shot to fame with a record score in a T20 match earlier this season. They will bring a very strong team to the ECS
Captain: Shoaib Ahmed
Main Wicketkeeper: WCP Wellege
Key Players:
Atta Ullah scored 251 not out off only 80 balls out of a team score of 311 for 1 in a T20 match back in June. Whether he can repeat the heroics in the European Cricket Series is yet to be determined.
Zeeshan Ahmad boasts the best batting average across Cyprus cricket but it will be interesting to see if his game suits ten over cricket where you need to get moving fast!
Ram Jaishwal will bowl some leg spin. If he doesn’t bowl too many bad balls then I feel that he will force batsmen into errors this week.
Team Preview for Nicosia Tigers
Nicosia Tigers have ECS experience and ended up finishing runners-up to the July champions, Punjab Lions, after knocking off Cyprus Moufflons in a huge upset in the eliminator. Boasting a big recruit in Mangala Gunasekara, expect them to make waves this week.
Captain: Faysal Mia
Main Wicketkeeper: Yasir Khan
Key Players:
Mangala Gunasekara is “THE BIG GUN”. The former Punjab Lion is a huge pickup for the Tigers. He was the standout player in the previous series, leading the run scoring and being third on the wicket tally. He will give a massive boost to his new team and can win a game off his own bat.
Iftekar Jaman is a prolific wicket-taker and can also find the boundary with bat in hand. Watch out for his contributions this week.
YasirKhan was the leading run scorer for the Tigers in the previous series, with 340 runs at a strike rate of 228, including 26 maximos! He will want to keep up those kinds of numbers.
Mr Maximo’s tip: RIYAAN CC
The addition of Gunasekara to the Tigers makes this game very difficult to predict indeed and I am very keen to see him duel with record holder Atta Ullah. Overall, I favour Riyaan because I believe they have more players that can contribute to the result but don’t be surprised if THE BIG GUN shoots down whatever total they set.
