Nine leading Italian sides, Albano, Bergamo, Bergamo United, Bogliasco, Fresh Tropical, Milan, Milan Kingsgrove, Milan United, Pioltello United feature over six days in 24 high-octane T10 matches from magical Milan. 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.

Day 1 PREVIEW: FanCode ECS Italy Milan – Matches 1 to 4

European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy, Milan on Monday 5 April.

 

We move to magnificent Milan for another week of compelling T10 cricket in Italy. Eight teams will battle it out in the first round, divided into two groups, before Bergamo United, European Cricket Series Rome Winners in November 2020 join the top two from each group for the second stage. We kick off on Monday with Group A action.

 

Group A

BCC Bergamo CC (0-0, NRR+0.000)

BOG Bogliasco (0-0, NRR+0.000)

MK Milan Kingsgrove (0-0, NRR+0.000)

PU Pioltello United (0-0, NRR+0.000)

 

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MATCH (ECS21.197)

PIOLTELLO UNITED (PU) v MILAN KINGSGROVE (MK)

0730 GMT | 0930 CET | 1300 IST

 

PU Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT 

MK Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 91, Avg Score Against 118) 

 

PIOLTELLO UNITED (PU)

Captain: Haseeb Ansari

Wicketkeeper: Imran Haider

Projected Top Four: Vissal Hussain, Raza Noor, Majid Safi, Zain Amjad

Projected Opening Bowlers: Husnain Kabeer, Ahmad Khan

Spin Options: Raza Noor

 

PIOLTELLO UNITED Key Players:

Haseeb Ansari, captain, aggressive batsman, always looks to play big shots, very strong down the ground.

Majid Safi is one of the best players of tape ball cricket in Italy, his experience will come in handy for Pioltello United at the top of the order.

Hunain Ansari, brother of Haseeb Ansari, played for Milan Kingsgrove in the previous edition, picked up three wickets in three matches.



MILAN KINGSGROVE (MK)

Captain: Tharindu Fernando

Wicketkeeper: Sadeeth Varadharajah

Projected Top Four: Joy Perera, Nimna Pauththuwadura, Tharindu Fernando, Dinuka Samarawickrama

Projected Opening Bowlers: Rajeewa Balasuriya, Lahiru Vithanage

Spin Options: Joy Perera, Lasitha Vithanage

 

MILAN KINGSGROVE Key Players:

Tharindu Fernando, very useful all-rounder with international experience for Italy. Could not play in the ECS Rome and will be keen to stamp his authority on this tournament.

Joy Perera, Italian national team player, top scorer for MK in the previous edition mustering 157 runs including a 29-ball 54 vs Royal Parma.

Dinuka Samarawickrama, all-rounder, top wicket taker for MK in the previous edition scalping six wickets from six matches, also scored 90 runs.

Nimna Pauththuwadura, all-rounder, scored 56 runs in the previous edition and picked up three wickets as well.

 

Milan Kingsgrove will take on debutants Pioltello United in the opening match. While MK played in the previous edition, they remained winless and would be aiming to get that elusive first ECS win.

 

Match Prediction: Milan Kingsgrove (MK) to seal their first ever ECS win against the debutants.

 

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MATCH (ECS21.198)

BOGLIASCO (BOG) v PIOLTELLO UNITED (PU)

0930 GMT | 1130 CET | 1500 IST

 

BOG Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT 

PU Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT 

 

BOGLIASCO (BOG)

Captain: Madupa Fernando

Wicketkeeper: Rishan Kavinda

Projected Top Four: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana, Supun Tharanga, Rishan Kavinda

Projected Opening Bowlers: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana

Spin Options: Madupa Fernando, Supun Tharanga

 

BOGLIASCO Key Players:

Rishan Kavinda, talented wicket-keeper batsman, played for Padova CC in the previous edition racking up 185 runs including two fifties.

Supun Tharanga, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, loves playing the pull shot.

Madupa Fernando, left arm spinner, has played for the Italian national team, turns the ball sharply and can be deceiving with his lovely flighted deliveries.

 

PIOLTELLO UNITED (PU)

Captain: Haseeb Ansari

Wicketkeeper: Imran Haider

Projected Top Four: Vissal Hussain, Raza Noor, Majid Safi, Zain Amjad

Projected Opening Bowlers: Husnain Kabeer, Ahmad Khan

Spin Options: Raza Noor

 

PIOLTELLO UNITED Key Players:

Haseeb Ansari, captain, aggressive batsman, always looks to play big shots, very strong down the ground.

Majid Safi is one of the best players of tape ball in Italy, his experience will come in handy for Pioltello United at the top of the order.

Hunain Ansari, brother of Haseeb Ansari, played for Milan Kingsgrove in the previous edition, picked up three wickets from three matches.

 

Two debutants lock horns for the first time on European Cricket’s grand stage. Both these teams will look to gain any early advantage in the standings.  

 

Match Prediction: This could go either way but Bogliasco (BOG) might edge the battle of the debutants.

 

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MATCH (ECS21.199)

MILAN KINGSGROVE (MK) v BOGLIASCO (BOG)

1130 GMT | 1330 CET | 1700 IST

 

MK Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 91, Avg Score Against 118) 

BOG Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT 

 

MILAN KINGSGROVE (MK)

Captain: Tharindu Fernando

Wicketkeeper: Sadeeth Varadharajah

Projected Top Four: Joy Perera, Nimna Pauththuwadura, Tharindu Fernando, Dinuka Samarawickrama

Projected Opening Bowlers: Rajeewa Balasuriya, Lahiru Vithanage

Spin Options: Joy Perera, Lasitha Vithanage

 

MILAN KINGSGROVE Key Players:

Tharindu Fernando, very useful all-rounder with international experience for Italy. Could not play in the ECS Rome and will be keen to stamp his authority on this tournament.

Joy Perera, Italian national team player, top scorer for MK in the previous edition mustering 157 runs including a 29-ball 54 vs Royal Parma.

Dinuka Samarawickrama, all-rounder, top wicket taker for MK in the previous edition scalping six wickets from six matches, also scored 90 runs.

Nimna Pauththuwadura, all-rounder, scored 56 runs in the previous edition and picked up three wickets as well.



BOGLIASCO (BOG)

Captain: Madupa Fernando

Wicketkeeper: Rishan Kavinda

Projected Top Four: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana, Supun Tharanga, Rishan Kavinda

Projected Opening Bowlers: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana

Spin Options: Madupa Fernando, Supun Tharanga

 

BOGLIASCO Key Players:

Rishan Kavinda, talented wicket-keeper batsman, played for Padova CC in the previous edition racking up 185 runs including two fifties.

Supun Tharanga, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, loves playing the pull shot.

Madupa Fernando, left arm spinner, has played for the Italian national team, turns the ball sharply and can be deceiving with his lovely flighted deliveries.



These two predominantly Sri Lankan clubs will have already played a match a piece earlier, and will be familiar with the conditions. 

 

Match Prediction: Milan Kingsgrove (MK) to nick the points with a narrow win.

 

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MATCH 4  (ECS21.200)

BOGLIASCO (BOG) v BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC)

1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST

 

BOG Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT 

BCC Last Five Matches: W W W W L (Avg Score For 127, Avg Score Against 102)

 

BOGLIASCO (BOG)

Captain: Madupa Fernando

Wicketkeeper: Rishan Kavinda

Projected Top Four: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana, Supun Tharanga, Rishan Kavinda

Projected Opening Bowlers: Sachin Tharuka, Upul Nandana

Spin Options: Madupa Fernando, Supun Tharanga

 

BOGLIASCO Key Players:

Rishan Kavinda, talented wicket-keeper batsman, played for Padova CC in the previous edition racking up 185 runs including two fifties.

Supun Tharanga, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, loves playing the pull shot.

Madupa Fernando, left arm spinner, has played for the Italian national team, turns the ball sharply and can be deceiving with his lovely flighted deliveries.



BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC)

Captain: Jaspreet Singh

Wicketkeeper: Manpreet Singh

Projected Top Four: Baljit Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sonu Lal, Jaspreet Singh

Projected Opening Bowlers: Baljit Singh, Jaspreet Singh

Spin Options: Daljit Singh, Chetan Kumar, Rakesh Kumar Banga

 

BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB Key Players:

Baljit Singh, current Italian national team member, top run scorer for BCC in September 2020 with 136 runs, picked up six wickets from six games with best figures of 2-6.

Jaspreet Singh, captain, all-rounder, member of current Italian team, scalped eight wickets in the previous edition and mustered 88 runs.

Manpreet Singh, another Italian national team member, plundered 132 runs at a strike rate of over 280 in the previous edition.

 

Bergamo CC enjoyed a tremendous ECS debut, only losing out to Jinnah Brescia in the Finals in September 2020. BCC play their first game against Bogliasco and will be hoping to lift the trophy this time around.

 

Match Prediction: Bergamo CC (BCC) to win at a canter to close Day 1 action.

 

 

Tune into the live action from Milan from Monday to Saturday from * 0730 GMT * 0930 CEST * 1300 IST.