MATCH 16 (ECS21.523) VTU-MU PLEVEN (PLE) v ACADEMIC - MU SOFIA (MUS) 1200 GMT | 1400 CET | 1730 IST
PLE Last Five Matches: W L L L (Avg Score For 86, Avg Score Against 96)
MUS Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 82, Avg Score Against 66)
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!
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.
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 register six straight wins.
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