The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Rome encounter between Bologna and Defentas Sporting.
Tune in to the live action Thursday from 3:15pm CET * 2:15pm UK/GMT * 7:45pm IST from the Roma Cricket Ground in Rome, Italy.
Team Preview for Bologna
Bologna CC are a young team although the club has been around for quite a while, having been established in 1986. This team is a nice blend of youth and experience who will be itching to show what they are capable of on the big stage.
Captain: Ankush Kumar
Main Wicketkeeper: Zain Iftikhar
Key Players:
Muhammad Adnan is the “go-to” man for Bologna. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the quarter finals of the T20 competition this year and even though it wasn’t enough for them to progress in that tournament, he has shown he is a big game player. With the bat, he can come in at three or four and give the ball a thump too.
Haseeb Khan is an opening batsman who can also bowl some sharp left-armers. I like him as an option to take the new ball for this Bologna team as he can cause some early headaches.
Akash Deep is probably Bologna’s fastest bowler. They often use him in the middle overs as an alternative to using him first up with the new ball, as he seems to be a bit more effective bowling later in the innings.
Team Preview for Defentas Sporting
Defentas Sporting Club have had a tough time in the Coppa Italia and T20 cricket this year but perhaps the European Cricket Series will provide them the format in which their players can perform and push some of the more fancied teams in Group B.
Captain: Mukhtiar Singh
Main Wicketkeeper: Asraful Islam
Key Players:
Mukhtiar Singh will lead the side and is always one of the most important players for Defentas. An accomplished batsman who is consistently among the best performers with ball in hand as well – he has a big role to play if his team are to progress in this series.
Mohsin Ahmed was the leading run-scorer for Defentas this season. He will be looking to provide some fireworks at the top of the order and send some balls out of the Roma Cricket Ground.
Abdur Jemi was their leading wicket-taker in 2020. He must take early wickets if Defentas are to restrict their opponents to scores that they are capable of chasing.
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Mr Maximo’s tip: BOLOGNA
Both these teams will be keen to get one up on the other as their meetings will be crucial to the makeup of the final placings in Group B. Defentas will be keen to improve on a difficult season in 2020 and I can see them being competitive but I feel that Bologna will be the favourites to win the final match of the day.
Tune into the European Cricket Network on Thursday for all the Group B action from the ECS Rome, available on FanCode in the Indian subcontinent and on exclusive on Sports Flick if you’re tuning in from anywhere else around the world. The European Cricket Series provides heart-stopping entertainment with four T10 matches every day this week!
