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 5 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Bulgaria on Friday 9 July.
As we come to the last day of the group stages, MU Plovdiv, Barbarians and MU Pleven battle it out for the final two knockout places while Indo-Bulgarian CC and Academic - MU Sofia are safely through to the knockouts taking the top two spots.
Teams
INB Indo-Bulgarian CC (6-0, NRR+2.022)
MUS Academic - MU Sofia (6-2, NRR+1.594)
PLO BSCU - MU Plovdiv (1-4-1, NRR+0.311)
BAR Barbarians (1-4-1, NRR-3.498)
PLE VTU - MU Pleven (1-5, NRR-1.473)
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MATCH 17 (ECS21.524)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB) v BARBARIANS (BAR)
0600 GMT | 0800 CET | 1130 IST
MATCH 18 (ECS21.525)
BARBARIANS (BAR) v INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
INB Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 95)
BAR Last Five Matches: NR L W L L (Avg Score For 56, Avg Score Against 92)
INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB)
Captain: Prakash Mishra
Wicketkeeper: Shafquat Khan
Projected Top Four: Hristo Lakov, Prakash Mishra, Sidhant Kulkarni, Rohit Dhiman
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hristo Lakov, Prakash Mishra
Spin Options: Bakhtiar Tahiri
INDO-BULGARIAN CC Key Players:
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. Looked good on Thursday scoring an unbeaten 37 vs PLO, he is also making significant contributions with the ball picking up FIVE wickets in six 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. He is currently leading the scoring sheets with 203 runs at an SR of 205 including two fifties. Has also picked up EIGHT wickets.
Rohit Dhiman has impressed in his debut ECS season. The medium pacer has consistently bowled in good channels and been rewarded with FIVE wickets. Has also racked up 81 runs with the bat.
BARBARIANS (BAR)
Captain: Dimo Nikolov
Wicketkeeper: Hristo Ivanov
Projected Top Four: Dimo Nikolov, Mohammad Fayyaz, Hristo Ivanov, Ivaylo Katzarski
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 scoring 61 runs in five innings, with a couple of wickets as well.
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. Third highest run-scorer for BAR with 42 runs to his name this term.
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. Took his side to their maiden victory of the season with a blistering 10-ball 22 on Tuesday. Has racked up 55 runs and picked up three wickets.
Nikolay Nankov, the right arm off-spinner has looked better than his teammates picking up three wickets so far.
Barbarians face a seriously uphill task against table toppers Indo-Bulgarian CC who have cruised to six consecutive victories and are yet to be beaten in this edition. INB look set to go unbeaten in the group stage unless BAR can work some magic to outclass their rivals.
Last time they met: INB 178 def BAR 49 (10 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: Indo-Bulgarian CC (INB) to win both games with plenty to spare.
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MATCH 19 (ECS21.526)
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE) v BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
1000 GMT | 1200 CET | 1530 IST
MATCH 20 (ECS21.527)
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO) v VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
PLE Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 86, Avg Score Against 110)
PLO Last Five Matches: NR L L L L (Avg Score For 91, Avg Score Against 96)
VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE)
Captain: Akshay Harikumar
Wicketkeeper: Nithin Sunil
Projected Top Four: Akshay Harikumar, Aswad Khan, Mukul Kadyan, Nithin Sunil
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. Joint second highest wicket taker for his side with FIVE wickets to his name and has scored 81 runs. Was awarded man of the match on Thursday for his valiant effort of 32 not out vs MUS.
Tarun Yadav has racked up 101 runs in five innings and is the second highest run scorer for PLE. Has also scalped a couple of wickets.
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 109 runs top scoring for PLE.
Mukul Kadyan, star all-rounder, will open the innings for PLE, bowls fiery in-swingers. Is leading the wickets column for PLE with SIX wickets to his name at an ER of 7.20.
BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO)
Captain: Saim Hussain
Wicketkeeper: Saim Hussain
Projected Top Four: Saim Hussain, Sulaiman Ali, Nabeel Javed, Junaid Farooq
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 not out. Started off with a bang scoring an unbeaten 67 off just 21 balls. Has racked up a total of 178 runs in five innings at an SR of 193.
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. Finally came good with the bat smashing 73 off 38 balls on Thursday. Has been good with the ball as well picking up three wickets.
Parth Acharya, will take the new cherry for PLO, has good pace and gets plenty of lateral movement, has scalped three wickets so far.
Both the Medical University sides of Plovdiv and Pleven are without a win in their last five appearances and will be desperate to be on the right side of the results on Friday. Reigning champions PLO are placed third in the standings and are almost through to the playoffs, while newcomers PLE need at least a win to avoid elimination.
Match Prediction: Plovdiv and Pleven to share the spoils with a win apiece.
