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 4 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Bulgaria on Thursday 8 July.
We are past halfway, nearing the business end of the competition in Bulgaria. As it stands, the top three teams seem certain for the playoffs while Barbarians and Pleven fight for the last spot. Barbarians have the upper hand with an extra point assisted by rain.
Teams
INB Indo-Bulgarian CC (4-0, NRR+2.679)
MUS Academic - MU Sofia (4-2, NRR+1.208)
PLO BSCU - MU Plovdiv (1-2-1, NRR+0.900)
BAR Barbarians (1-4-1, NRR-3.498)
PLE VTU - MU Pleven (1-3, NRR-0.977)
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MATCH 13 (ECS21.520)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB) v BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
0600 GMT | 0800 CET | 1130 IST
MATCH 14 (ECS21.521)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO) v INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
INB Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 121, Avg Score Against 106)
PLO Last Five Matches: W W NR L L (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 92)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
Captain: Prakash Mishra
Wicketkeeper: Shafquat Khan
Projected Top Four: Hristo Lakov, Bakhtiar Tahiri, Prakash Mishra, Sidhant Kulkarni
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hristo Lakov, Rohit Singh
Spin Options: Bakhtiar Tahiri
INDO-BULGARIAN CC Key Players:
Bakhtiar Tahiri, MVP last term, ended leading run scorer with an amazing 531 runs, averaging 88.5, strike rate of over 211, hitting 45 fours and 40 sixes, racking up a series of Man of Match awards. Also joint-second leading wicket taker with nine scalps. Simply a must for your fantasy eleven. Scalped two wickets at an economy of just 3.50 in the only match he played on Monday.
Hristo Lakov, the opener was the second highest run scorer for INB in the last edition, racking up 314 runs at a strike rate of 195, including three fifty plus scores. Hasn’t fired with the bat yet but is making significant contributions with the ball picking up FOUR wickets in four games.
Prakash Mishra, captain, was joint leading wicket taker for his side last summer scalping NINE victims. He also mustered 84 runs at a SR of 200! Also skippers the Bulgaria national team. Started off on a positive note contributing with bat and ball in the opening game to bag man of the match honours. Is currently leading the scoring sheets with 160 runs at an SR of 208. Has also picked up SIX wickets.
Rohit Dhiman has impressed in his debut ECS season. The medium pacer has consistently bowled in good channels and been rewarded with FOUR wickets.
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
Captain: Saim Hussain
Wicketkeeper: Saim Hussain
Projected Top Four: Saim Hussain, Sulaiman Ali, Nabeel Javed, Zain Abidi
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sulaiman Ali, Ali Hussain
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. Has racked up a total of 115 runs in three innings at an SR of 209.
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. He needs to fire with the bat in the absence of a few key players on Thursday. Has been good with the ball picking up a couple of wickets.
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.
Muhammad Uzair is leading the wicket taking charts for PLO picking up FOUR victims in three matches at an economy rate of just seven.
After two heavy defeats on Tuesday, PLO had a lot to think about on their day off and will look to return to winning ways against unbeaten leaders INB. Reigning champions PLO are definitely not as strong as last term with their batting hopes resting squarely on the shoulders of their captain Saim Hussain. And with a few more key players missing for these two encounters, the chances of PLO making a comeback against the leaders looks gloomy.
Last time they met: PLO 168 def INB 138 (11 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: Indo-Bulgarian CC (INB) to win both especially if Saim Hussain proves human.
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MATCH 15 (ECS21.522)
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS) v VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
1000 GMT | 1200 CET | 1530 IST
MATCH 16 (ECS21.523)
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE) v ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
1200 GMT | 1400 CET | 1730 IST
MUS Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 82, Avg Score Against 66)
PLE Last Five Matches: W L L L (Avg Score For 86, Avg Score Against 96)
ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS)
Captain: Ishan De Silva
Wicketkeeper: Omar Rasool
Projected Top Four: Omar Rasool, Ishan De Silva, Kevin D’Souza, Ashbel Nicson
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. Hasn’t fired so far but will be eyeing a big score against a struggling PLE side.
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. Has racked up 119 runs in five innings at a staggering strike rate of 209 scoring more than 82% of his runs in boundaries.
Ali Rasool, the 18-year old left arm medium pacer has been the surprise package bowling with great control and accuracy. He is leading the wicket taking sheets with EIGHT scalps conceding at just 5.50 runs per over.
Huzaif Yousuf, another youngster who is shining bright in this tournament, has bagged FIVE wickets and has been economical. Got to open on Wednesday and hammered 20 runs in the first over.
Delrick Vinu, the 24-year old fast bowler has been impressive picking up EIGHT wickets with a best return of 3-4 and is the joint highest wicket taker in the tournament alongside teammate Ali Rasool.
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
Captain: Akshay Harikumar
Wicketkeeper: Tarun Yadav
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 talent with 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. Joint highest wicket taker for his side with FIVE wickets to his name.
Tarun Yadav has racked up 84 runs in three innings and is leading the scoring sheets for PLE.
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. Picked up FIVE wickets including a man of the match performance of 2-4 vs Barbarians. Has scored 58 runs as well.
Mukul Kadyan, star all-rounder, will open the innings for PLE, bowls fiery in-swingers. Is leading the wickets column for PLE with FIVE wickets to his name at an ER of just 4.85!
MUS bounced back from a horror show on the opening day to complete four straight wins, including two good victories over reigning champions Plovdiv. Debutants Pleven could only share the spoils with Barbarians and are unlikely to provide too much of a challenge for improving MUS.
Match Prediction: Academic - MU Sofia (MUS) to win both encounters.
