European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 3 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Austria, Vienna on Wednesday 21 April. Tune into the live action from 0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST from the Seebarn Cricket Ground in Vienna, Austria.
Hosts Vienna CC seek an elusive first win but face a tough task against Vienna Afghan first up. Bangladesh Austria will look to bounce back from their first defeat against Vienna CC, while the match of the day is Vienna Afghan against Pakistan CC, the two winners of the European Cricket Network comps last summer. Pakistan CC goes back-to-back with a match against unbeaten newcomers Vienna Danube to close the day.
Teams
VID Vienna Danube (2-0-1, NRR+1.781)
BAA Bangladesh Austria (1-1-1, NRR-1.6)
INV Indian Vienna (1-1, NRR+1.450)
VIA Vienna Afghan (1-0, NRR+0.800)
PKC Pakistan CC (1-2, NRR-0.148)
CRC Cricketers CC (1-1, NRR-1.125)
SAL Salzburg (0-0, NRR+0.000)
VCC Vienna CC (0-2, NRR-1.252)
MATCH 9(ECS21.253)
VIENNA CC (VCC) v VIENNA AFGHAN (VIA)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
VIA Last Five Matches: W L L W W
VCC Last Five Matches: W L L L L
VIENNA CC (VCC)
Captain: Quinton Norris
Wicketkeeper: Quinton Norris
Projected Top Four: Mark Simpson Parker, Abdullah Akbarjan, Lakmal Kasthuri Arachchige, Quinton Norris
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mark Simpson Parker, Junaid Syed
Spin Options: Lakmal Kasthuri Arachchige
VIENNA CC Key Players:
Abdullah Akbarjan, only VCC batsman to top 100 runs in ECN Austrian T10 at a SR of over 228, talented left-armer with good variations, starred for Pakistan CC in their ECS success, taking 6-30 in 7 overs, economy rate just 4.28. Impressed on the opening day with 81 runs in two knocks.
Quinton Norris, former teammate of Kevin Pietersen in South Africa will lead by example from behind the stumps.
Mark Simpson Parker, Austrian international all-rounder, useful bowler, will need to pick up his scoring rate with the bat.
VIENNA AFGHAN (VIA)
Captain: Aman Ahmadzai
Wicketkeeper: Qadargul Utmanzai
Projected Top Four: Razmal Shigiwal, Qadargul Utmanzai, Muhammad Sadiq, Ahmad Naveed Mustafa
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sahil Zadran, Zain Muhammad
Spin Options: Zabi Ibrahim
VIENNA AFGHAN Key Players:
Razmal Shigiwal, opening batsman, hits the ball cleanly, top run scorer at ECN Austria T10 last summer mustering 204 runs at an SR of 243, also picked up six wickets.
Qadargul Utmanzai,impressive for INV at European Cricket Series Vienna last season, smashing 235 runs in just seven knocks at an SR of over 199. Started with a man-of-the-man display in the opening game, also keeping wicket after his 30 off 16 balls.
Muhammad Sadiq, hits the ball hard, started with 3 sixes in his crucial 13-ball 24.
Winless hosts Vienna CC face a tough task against ECN Austrian T10 champions VIA who started their campaign with a narrow win on Tuesday against Indian Vienna.
Last time they met: VIA 135 (10) def VCC 107 (25 July 2020)
Match Prediction: Anything is possible in T10 cricket, but VCC need to bat first and set a target of above 90 to have a realistic sniff of success. VIA look probable winners in the opening match of the day, especially if they bat first.
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MATCH 10(ECS21.254)
VIENNA CC (VCC) v BANGLADESH AUSTRIA (BAA)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
VCC Last Five Matches: W L L L L
BAA Last Five Matches: L L W NR L
VIENNA CC (VCC)
Captain: Quinton Norris
Wicketkeeper: Quinton Norris
Projected Top Four: Mark Simpson Parker, Abdullah Akbarjan, Daniel Eckstein, Lakmal Kasthuri Arachchige
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mark Simpson Parker, Daniel Eckstein
Spin Options: Lakmal Kasthuri Arachchige, Ali Rahemi
VIENNA CC Key Players:
Abdullah Akbarjan, only VCC batsman to top 100 runs in ECN Austrian T10 at a SR of over 228, talented left-armer with good variations, starred for Pakistan CC in their ECS success, taking 6-30 in 7 overs, economy rate just 4.28. Impressed on the opening day with 81 runs in two knocks.
Daniel Eckstein, hard hitting all-rounder who can bowl good inswingers and score quick runs - if he sticks around.
Mark Simpson Parker, Austrian international all-rounder, useful bowler, will need to pick up his scoring rate with the bat.
BANGLADESH AUSTRIA (BAA)
Captain: Rakib Islam
Wicketkeeper: Shahdath Khan
Projected Top Four: Iqbal Hossain, Hassan Ashfaq, Zayed Shahid, Uzzal Majumdar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rahat Shahid, Gill Singh
Spin Options: Gursevan Singh, Hassan Ashfaq, Iqbal Hossain
BANGLADESH AUSTRIA Key Players:
Hassan Ashfaq, classy opening batsman, plays all-round the park, looked solid with the bat in the opening match mustering 43 off 28 balls.
Iqbal Hossain, will open the batting for BAA, racked up 64 runs from four games at ECN Austrian T10, scalped three wickets in the abandoned match giving away just seven runs in his two overs.
Gursevan Singh, right arm spin bowler, leading wicket taker in the tournament so far with six wickets in his wily six overs of deceit.
Last time they met: VCC 129 (10) def BAA 105 (25 July 2020)
Victorious in the last meeting of the two sides at ECN Austrian T10, hosts Vienna CC will view this as a winnable game, especially if VCC can compete well in the previous game against one of the favourites VIA. That said, Bangladesh Austria look a much-improved side from last year and will also be confident of victory.
Match Prediction: Vienna CC (VCC) to get off the mark with a narrow win.
MATCH 11 (ECS21.255)
VIENNA AFGHAN (VIA) v PAKISTAN CC (PKC)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
VIA Last Five Matches: W L L W W
PKC Last Five Matches: W W L W L
VIENNA AFGHAN (VIA)
Captain: Aman Ahmadzai
Wicketkeeper: Qadargul Utmanzai
Projected Top Four: Razmal Shigiwal, Qadargul Utmanzai, Muhammad Sadiq, Ahmad Naveed Mustafa
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sahil Zadran, Zain Muhammad
Spin Options: Zabi Ibrahim
VIENNA AFGHAN Key Players:
Razmal Shigiwal, opening batsman, hits the ball cleanly, top run scorer at ECN Austria T10 last summer mustering 204 runs at an SR of 243, also picked up six wickets.
Qadargul Utmanzai,impressive for INV at European Cricket Series Vienna last season, smashing 235 runs in just seven knocks at an SR of over 199. Started with a man-of-the-man display in the opening game, also keeping wicket after his 30 off 16 balls.
Muhammad Sadiq, hits the ball hard, started with 3 sixes in his crucial 13-ball 24.
PAKISTAN CC (PKC)
Captain: Arsalan Arif
Wicketkeeper: Arsalan Arif
Projected Top Four: Naveed Hassan, Amir Naeem, Mirza Ahsan, Aqib Iqbal
Projected Opening Bowlers: Naveed Hassan, Aqib Iqbal
Spin Options: Adal Afzal, Mirza Ahsan
PAKISTAN CC Key Players:
Naveed Hassan, started in impressive fashion with both bat and ball with a man-of-the-match display on the opening day.
Arsalan Arif, captain,top run scorer for his side at ECN Austrian T10 with 100 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 200 including 11 maximos.
Aqib Iqbal, impressed for Austrian Cricket Tigers at ECN Austrian T10, looked in fine form with the bat scoring a brisk 15 off 9 balls.
Adal Afzal, left arm off spinner, played for Austrian Cricket Tigers at ECN Austrian T10, scalped two wickets in the only game he bowled.
Last time they met: PKC 131 (10) def VIA 124 (10) (19 Aug 2020)
A genuine heavyweight clash of Austrian cricket as Vienna Afghan, ECN Austrian T10 champions last summer take on Pakistan CC, ECS Vienna winners, only a few weeks later. Pakistan CC have dropped too many catches, costing them dearly in two defeats so far and will need to tighten up in all facets of the game.
Match Prediction: Vienna Afghan (VIA) enjoy the advantage of having played in the opening game of the day. Pakistan CC need a win to keep their title hopes intact. This could go either way, but you can never write off a Pakistan side with their backs to the wall.
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MATCH 12(ECS21.256)
PAKISTAN CC (PKC) v VIENNA DANUBE (VID)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
PKC Last Five Matches: W W L W L
VID Last Five Matches: W NR W
PAKISTAN CC (PKC)
Captain: Arsalan Arif
Wicketkeeper: Arsalan Arif
Projected Top Four: Naveed Hassan, Amir Naeem, Mirza Ahsan, Aqib Iqbal
Projected Opening Bowlers: Naveed Hassan, Aqib Iqbal
Spin Options: Adal Afzal, Mirza Ahsan
PAKISTAN CC Key Players:
Naveed Hassan, started in impressive fashion with both bat and ball with a man-of-the-match display on the opening day.
Arsalan Arif, captain,top run scorer for his side at ECN Austrian T10 with 100 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 200 including 11 maximos.
Aqib Iqbal, impressed for Austrian Cricket Tigers at ECN Austrian T10, looked in fine form with the bat scoring a brisk 15 off 9 balls.
Adal Afzal, left arm off spinner, played for Austrian Cricket Tigers at ECN Austrian T10, scalped two wickets in the only game he bowled.
VIENNA DANUBE (VID)
Captain: Khyber Malyar
Wicketkeeper: Zaid Miralikhel
Projected Top Four: Khyber Malyar, Zaid Miralikhel, Klair Kailash, Rabani Ahmadzai
Projected Opening Bowlers: Abdul Rahman Miralikhel, Obaidullah Omari
Spin Options: Khyber Malyar, Ahmed Zadran, Soleimankhel Habibullah
VIENNA DANUBE Key Players:
Khyber Malyar, captain, LHB, played for Vienna Afghan at ECN Austrian T10 racking up 132 runs, hit 25 off 20 as VID edged past Cricketers in a six over game.
Klair Kailash, very good on the off side, top scored for Pak Riders CC atECN Austrian T10 mustering 117 runs from four innings. Mullered 21 off 14 as VID maintained their unbeaten record on Day 2.
Abdul Rahman Miralikhel, fast bowler, played for Cricketers CCatECN Austrian T10 scalping three wickets in five overs.
Soleimankhel Habibullah, spinner started with a match winning performance and his only over on Day 2 cost only three runs.
Debutants Vienna Danube have made a quick start on debut and are not to be underestimated, while Pakistan CC have been sloppy in the field, costing them two victories.
Match Prediction: ECS Vienna champions Pakistan CC (PKC) to win the first-ever meeting of the two sides comfortably to close the day on a high.
