FanCode ECS Bulgaria provides an opportunity for five teams to showcase their skills, contesting 24 games over six days. Every game will be live streamed worldwide on the European Cricket Network and on FanCode - a multi-sport aggregator platform, from the house of Dream Sports for the Indian Sub-Continent.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 2 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Bulgaria on Tuesday 6 July.
Newcomers MU Pleven enter the fray on Day 2, while both MU Sofia and Barbarians seek their fírst win. Reigning champions MU Plovdiv looked a potent outfit in their early action, before the elements won the day in Match 4.
Teams
INB Indo-Bulgarian CC (2-0, NRR+1.997)
PLO BSCU - MU Plovdiv (1-0-1, NRR+8.700)
BAR Barbarians (0-1-1, NRR-8.700)
PLE VTU - MU Pleven (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MUS Academic - MU Sofia (0-2, NRR-1.997)
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MATCH 5 (ECS21.512)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO) v ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
0600 GMT | 0800 CET | 1130 IST
MATCH 6 (ECS21.513)
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS) v BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
PLO Last Five Matches: L W W L NR (Avg Score For 144, Avg Score Against 117)
MUS Last Five Matches: W L W L L (Avg Score For 117, Avg Score Against 109)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
Captain: Saim Hussain
Wicketkeeper: Saim Hussain
Projected Top Four: Saim Hussain, Sulaiman Ali, Ali Hussain, Aamir Nakhuda
Projected Opening Bowlers: Parth Acharya, Sulaiman Ali
Spin Options: Adithya Patnam
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV Key Players:
Saim Hussain, second leading run scorer last term with 376 runs and a best of 102*, averaging over 53 at a strike rate of 204+. Also hit 60 fours, easily the most in the tournament. Started off with a bang scoring an unbeaten 67 off just 21 balls.
Sulaiman Ali, man of the match in the final with the trophy on the line hammering an unbeaten 98 off just 33 balls, scored exactly 300 runs in the tournament and picked up FIVE wickets with the ball as well.
Ali Hussain, all-rounder, technically sound, consistently delivers good performances with bat and ball. Returned impressive figures of 2-13 vs BAR in the opener.
Parth Acharya, will take the new cherry for PLO, has good pace and gets plenty of lateral movement, could be the find of the season.
Nabeel Javed, clean striker of the ball, perfect for T10 cricket, can provide much needed impetus with the bat in the death overs.
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
Captain: Ishan De Silva
Wicketkeeper: Omar Rasool
Projected Top Four: Omar Rasool, Ishan De Silva, Firas Hussain, Kevin D’Souza
Projected Opening Bowlers: Huzaif Yousuf, Ali Rasool
Spin Options: Firas Hussain
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA Key Players:
Ishan De Silva, leading run scorer for MU-Sofia in the 2020 season - 546 runs! Scored his maiden International T20 century for the Bulgaria vs Serbia - 100* which is the 11th highest ever by a number 3 batsman.
Kevin D’Souzacaught the eye last season with an impressive knock of 67 off 20 balls vs Indo-Bulgarian CC to win the game. Amassed a total of 198 runs at a strike rate of 257! He is the best power hitter in the MUS side. Almost took his side to victory with a rapid unbeaten 64 in the opening match.
Albin Jacob, another Bulgarian international looking to make an impact, especially with the ball, is termed as “death bowler” by his teammates for his ability to keep the batsmen guessing with his variations. Picked up NINE wickets last summer with a best return of 4-11.
Omar Rasoolhas played cricket in the Leinster Senior Division 1 in Ireland. Has the ability to rotate the strike and can clear the ropes when needed. If not wicketkeeping, can also bowl leg spin.
Ashbel Nicson, a very skilled left handed batsman, represented Yorkshire from U12s-15s. Has the ability to score runs under pressure. Scalped 2-17 in the second game.
Nikhil Oliviera nailed the most boundaries (28) for his side last term, scored 204 runs in eight innings - second highest for MUS.
MUS face a tough task, seeking their first win of the campaign against the reigning champions. No doubt, MUS will still be rueing their narrow defeat to INB in the opening game of the tournament, despite Kevin D’Souza’s brilliant innings of 64* off 23 balls. Plovdiv and Saim Hussain, in particular, started with intent, before being denied by the rain in Match 4. A fierce rivalry exists between these two evenly matched Medical Universities and this double-header could go either way.
Last time they met: PLO 148 def MUS 110 (11 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: PLO and MUS to share the spoils with a win a piece.
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MATCH 7 (ECS21.514)
BARBARIANS (BAR) v VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1530 IST
MATCH 8 (ECS21.515)
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE) v BARBARIANS (BAR)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1730 IST
BAR Last Five Matches: L W L L NR (Avg Score For 78, Avg Score Against 138)
PLE Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
BARBARIANS (BAR)
Captain: Dimo Nikolov
Wicketkeeper: Hristo Ivanov
Projected Top Four: Dimo Nikolov, Mohammad Fayyaz, Hristo Ivanov, Boiko Ivanov
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mohammad Fayaz, Dimo Nikolov
Spin Options: Nikolay Nankov
BARBARIANSKey Players:
Mohammad Fayaz, will bolster the Barbarian batting and bowling. Impressed for Indian Tuskers last term, top scoring with 289 runs. Top scorer for BAR on Monday scoring 39 runs in the only innings Barbarians batted.
Ivaylo Katzarski, key man for his side with bat and ball, had the second best bowling figures last season picking up 4-16 vs Indian Tuskers.
Dimo Nikolov, current national player and top order batsman, missed ECS Sofia last September but will be helping his team stand tall this time around.
Hristo Ivanov, wicket-keeper batsman, top scorer for Barbarians last summer racking up 84 runs.
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
Captain: Akshay Harikumar
Wicketkeeper: Nithin Sunil
Projected Top Four: Mukul Kadyan, Nithin Sunil, Akshay Harikumar, Aswad Khan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Apoorv Mishra, Aswad Khan
Spin Options: Jishnu Sivakumar, Amal Thomas
VTU-MU PLEVEN Key Players:
Akshay Harikumar, promising player who can both bat and ball. Impressed in the previous edition playing for Indian Tuskers. Racked up 130 runs and ended as top wicket taker for the Tuskers with SEVEN scalps to his name.
Nithin Sunil, the right hander played for Tuskers in the previous edition and ended up as the second highest scorer for his side amassing 131 runs.
Aswad Khan, opening bowler who will trouble the batsman with bouncers, can generate pace and bounce off the surface and will be hard to get away with.
Mukul Kadyan, star all-rounder, will open the innings for PLE, bowls fiery in-swingers with the ball.
Barbarians also seek their first win against debutants MU Pleven.
Familiar with the playing conditions from Monday, Barbarians’ best chance of victory will come in the first of the double-header, as Pleven will probably need a bit of time to get accustomed to the pitch.
Match Prediction: VTU-MU Pleven (PLE) to win both encounters, with the first one likely to be the closest of the two.
