MATCH 14 (ECS21.521) BSCU - MU PLOVDIV (PLO) v INDO-BULGARIAN CC (INB) 0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
PLO Last Five Matches: W W NR L L (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 92)
INB Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 121, Avg Score Against 106)
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.
Captain: Prakash Mishra
Wicketkeeper: Shafquat Khan
Projected Top Four: Hristo Lakov, Bakhtiar Tahiri, Prakash Mishra, Sidhant Kulkarni
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hristo Lakov, Prakash Mishra
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.
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 remain unbeaten with sixth consecutive win.
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