The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Prague encounter between Prague Spartans and Prague CC.
Tune in to the live action Tuesday from 10am CEST * 9am UK * 8am GMT * 1:30pm IST from Scott Page Field in the Czech Republic.
Team Preview for Prague Spartans
The Prague Spartans Vanguards won Week 2 of the ECN Czech Super Series T10 back in June, earning the right to compete in the Championship Weekend the following month where they got within one game of the decider. They had a disappointing season in the Czech T20 League this year, finishing in fifth place with a 2-5 record. They started this series in disappointing fashion, going down to Vinohrady CC after only managing 57 with the bat.
Captain: Prasannaa Ganesan
Main Wicketkeeper: Ghanshyam Kumar
Key Players:
Zahid Mahmood is representing the Spartans on loan from Bohemian CC, who were the eventual winners of the ECN Czech Super Series. He played a starring role in the final, smacking 42 off only 22 balls.
Satyajit Sengupta was a solid performer throughout the Super Series with the bat and ended up being their equal leading wicket-taker. He top-scored in the Spartans’ first match of this series with 18 out of their disappointing total of 57.
Kranthi Venkataswamy was the leading Spartan run-scorer during the Championship Weekend in July, including a high score of 63 not out. He is coming off a golden duck in his last innings but we know he is capable of scoring runs at the top of the order.
Team Preview for Prague CC
Prague CC Kings didn’t make it out of their group on Week 1 of the Czech Super Series but rebounded to emerge victorious in the 2020 Czech T20 League championships. While all eyes will be on international Sudesh Wickramasekara, it was the bowlers that did the business for them in that successful campaign. This match marks the start of their European Cricket Series journey this week.
Captain: Sudesh Wickramasekara
Main Wicketkeeper: Hilal Ahmed
Key Players:
Sudesh Wickramasekara is the man they call “THE BEAST”. He is the equal T20 international record holder for the fastest century, an innings against Turkey last year where he brought up his ton off only 35 balls, in the process equalling David Miller and Rohit Sharma. This guy can hit it miles, so I expect him to relish the shorter boundaries on offer in the ECS! He will also play a role with ball in hand this week.
Kushal Mendon is likely to bat in the middle order and ball first change. He is a very adaptable cricketer, suited to the fast-paced format of the European Cricket Series.
Sameera Maduranga is likely to open the bowling with Ali Hassan Sittar. Along with Mendon, they combined to take 41 wickets from 94 overs in T20 cricket this season, all three possessing strike rates of under 15 balls per wicket taken.
Mr Maximo’s tip: PRAGUE CC
Prague Spartans had a lamentable start to this series, being bundled out for a low total against a rampant Prague Spartans outfit and having their chance to make amends washed away by the rain that saw their subsequent match abandoned. In this match I predict more doom and gloom for them as Prague CC appear to be too strong to overcome. With a formidable bowling lineup at their disposal and THE BEAST as an offensive weapon, I expect Prague CC to emerge victorious in the first match of Tuesday’s action at the European Cricket Series Prague.
