European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Germany Dresden on Monday 16 August.
BSC Rehberge 1945 (BSCR) were unfortunate in last year’s European Cricket Series Dresden losing out to Britannia CC (BRI) on NRR as the Final between the two sides was abandoned due to rain. Both finished with 12 points in the group standings, but it was BRI who trumped BSCR with a better net run-rate. In the group stages, BRI and BSCR shared the spoils with a win apiece.
Founded in 1889, FC Viktoria 89 (VIK) is one of the oldest football clubs in Germany. The cricket section has been playing in the Berlin A Elite League ever since the inception of competitive cricket in Eastern Germany in the early nineties. An experienced side, VIK will be hoping to go deep in the tournament on debut.
Founded in 2009, Fuchse Berlin Lions (FBL) comprise mainly Sri Lankan players with college and club level experience. FBL will be aiming for a strong showing in their debut ECS season.
Founded in 2007, RC Dresden (RCD) have been one of the most consistent clubs in Eastern Germany. RCD enjoyed an impressive debut last year winning the Bronze Final and will be hoping to go one better this time around.
Formed in 2017, SG Einheit Halle (EIH) is a relatively new club, but boast an array of young and experienced talent in their ranks. It will be interesting to see how EIH fare on their first appearance on the grand stage of European Cricket.
Group A
BSCRBSC Rehberge 1945 (0-0, NRR+0.000)
VIKFC Viktoria 89 (0-0, NRR+0.000)
FBLFuchse Berlin Lions (0-0, NRR+0.000)
RCDRC Dresden (0-0, NRR+0.000)
EIHSG Einheit Halle (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.652)
RC DRESDEN (RCD) v FUCHSE BERLIN LIONS (FBL)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
MATCH 2 (ECS21.653)
RC DRESDEN (RCD) v FUCHSE BERLIN LIONS (FBL)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
RCD Last Five Matches: L W L L W (Avg Score For 89, Avg Score Against 98)
FBL Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
RC DRESDEN (RCD)
Captain: Sandeep Kamboj
Wicketkeeper: Arun Harkanchi
Projected Top Four: Sandeep Kamboj, Mustafa Khan, Kapil Chandnani, Azam Rajput
Projected Opening Bowlers: Belal Zadran, Rahul Grover
Spin Option(s): Rahul Grover, Azam Rajput
RC DRESDEN Key Players:
Sandeep Kamboj, captain, attacking opening batsman, capable of accelerating from ball one. All-time RCD leading run scorer. Joint second highest run scorer last term racking up 201 runs in 10 innings. He also bowls right-arm medium pace and is generally accurate with his line and length.
Kapil Chandnani, top-order batsman and medium pace bowler. A technically sound batsman and an equally good bowler with an ability to swing the new ball both ways. Leading wicket taker last term picking up 16 wickets with a best return of 4-11 and also scored 44 runs with the bat.
Rahul Grover, off-break bowler, leading the team of spinners in the RCD side. Scalped 11 wickets from seven matches last year with a best return of 3-4. Has been in superb form already this summer and will definitely be a bowler to watch out for this term.
Sahar Roman, 19-year old all-rounder, a talented middle-order batsman and a right arm pace bowler capable of swinging the new ball.
Belal Zadran, left-arm medium pace bowler, right-hand middle order batsman and solid fielder. Didn’t feature much last year, but will be keen to catch the eye this term.
FUCHSE BERLIN LIONS (FBL)
Captain: Ganidu Arumadura
Wicketkeeper: Indika Gunasekara
Projected Top Four: Akila Rajapakshe, Indika Gunasekara, Chamila Bandara, Vinny Muruhesapillai
Projected Opening Bowlers: Nouman Stanikzai, Tharanga Loku Liyana
Spin Options: Stefane Siriwardana, Chamila Bandara, Praveen Nattramilarasu
FUCHSE BERLIN LIONS Key Players:
Indika Gunasekara, top-order batsman and wicket keeper, second-highest run-getter in the club's history, even recording a highest score in triple digits. Top-scorer in the 2020 batting leaderboard for Berlin Lions 1st XI.
Stefane Siriwardana, lead spinner and premier wicket-taker, finished MVP in 2019 after leading the bowling charts with 22 wickets.
Chamila Bandara, top-order batter, a solid anchor for his side, second-highest run-getter in 2019 and 2020 for Berlin Lions 1st XI with 241 and 225 runs respectively.
Tharanga Loku Liyana, opening bowler and leading wicket-taker for Berlin Lions 1st XI in 2020. He finished with 19 wickets at an average of 16.16 and a best of 4-14 in the season.
Hosts RCD have the benefit of playing on home soil and can also boast previous ECS experience. FBL have some talented strikers in their ranks and will be keen to make an impression on their much-anticipated debut.
Match Prediction: RC Dresden (RCD) to romp to a fast start with a couple of decisive wins.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.654)
SG EINHEIT HALLE (EIH) v BSC REHBERGE 1945 (BSCR)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
MATCH 4 (ECS21.655)
SG EINHEIT HALLE (EIH) v BSC REHBERGE 1945 (BSCR)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
EIH Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
BSCR Last Five Matches: L L W W NR (Avg Score For 103, Avg Score Against 91)
SG EINHEIT HALLE (EIH)
Captain: Naeem Shinware
Wicketkeeper: Naeem Shinware
Projected Top Four: Naeem Shinware, Ehsanullah Sharifi, Chandan Manjunath, Matiullah Molakkel
Projected Opening Bowlers: Abdullah Daulatzai, Ehsanullah Sharifi
Spin Options: Bilal Usmani, Matiullah Molakkel
SG EINHEIT HALLE Key Players:
Ehsanullah Sharifi, a talented opening batsman and a skilled fast bowler. He will be looking to provide good starts to his team with both bat and ball. All-time leading run scorer for EIH.
Naeem Shinware, a solid opening batsman, has racked up 181 runs in 11 club T20 games. One of the youngest ECS captain’s at the age of 22.
Rafi Khan, the 20-year old bowling all-rounder is quick, has good control, bowls good lengths and is not easy to get away. Picked up EIGHT wickets in six club T20 matches at an economy rate of under five.
Matiullah Molakkel, young, skilled all-rounder, bats in the middle order and bowls leg spin. Leading wicket taker for EIH in 2020.
BSC REHBERGE 1945 (BSCR)
Captain: Javed Rana
Wicketkeeper: Asim Rehman
Projected Top Four: Shahnawaz Ahmad, Nadjibullah Yasser, Luqman Jafer, Imran Chaudhry
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sajid Liaqat, Ali Butt
Spin Options: Javed Rana, Sadiq Sabah, Ronson Muliyal, Bashar Khan
BSC REHBERGE 1945 Key Players:
Sajid Liaqat, current Germany international opening bowler, took nine wickets at 19.11 in ECS Dresden in 2020 and will look to make inroads with the new ball.
Nooruddin Mujadady, another Germany international player and all-rounder, ECS MVP candidate in 2020. Finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer in European Cricket Series Dresden 2020.
Shahnawaz Ahmad, opening batsman, top-scorer last year in European Cricket Series Dresden 2020 with 215 runs, including a best of 65.
Bashar Khan, left arm spinner, selected recently for the Germany national team camp. One of the leading wicket takers in the current T20 league season.
BSCR boast previous ECS experience and were unlucky to lose the Final last term in a rain-affected affair. On debut, EIH face a seriously tough introduction to ECS cricket.
Match Prediction: BSC Rehberge 1945 (BSCR) to win both games at a canter.