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.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 2 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy, Milan on Tuesday 6 April.
In Group A, Bogliasco are safely through to the second round with three straight wins while Milan Kingsgrove and Bergamo CC are the other possible contenders to qualify for the next stage. Group B sees four new teams all make their much-anticipated debut on the grand stage of European Cricket.
Group A
BOG Bogliasco (3-0, NRR+2.138)
MK Milan Kingsgrove (1-1, NRR+1.650)
BCC Bergamo CC (0-1, NRR-0.768)
PU Pioltello United (0-2, NRR-4.739)
Group B
ALB Albano (0-0, NRR+0.000)
FT Fresh Tropical (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MCC Milan CC (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MU Milan United (0-0, NRR+0.000)
__________________
MATCH 5 (ECS21.201)
FRESH TROPICAL (FT) v MILAN UNITED (MU)
0730 GMT | 0930 CEST | 1300 IST
FT Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
MU Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
Captain: Muhammad Imran
Wicketkeeper: Hameed Farhan
Projected Top Four: Amir Sharif, Zain Naqvi, Mahash Javed, Muhammad Imran
Projected Opening Bowlers: Amir Sharif, Bilal Hamid
Spin Options: Sadam Hussain, Muhammad Imran
FRESH TROPICAL Key Players:
Muhammad Imran, captain, good top order batsman, loves playing the on drive, leg spinner with plenty of variations up his sleeves.
Mahash Javed, big hitter, can be very effective when he gets going, would love to show his skills and power on the big stage.
Zahid Cheema, Italian international fast bowler, played for Milan Kingsgrove in the previous edition picking up three wickets in four games, his previous ECL and ECS experience will come in handy.
MILAN UNITED (MU)
Captain: Roshan Silva
Wicketkeeper: Shihan Perera
Projected Top Four: Suresh Silva, Roshan Silva, Shihan Perera, Stephen Jayasekara
Projected Opening Bowlers: Roshan Silva, Ashan Ranasinghe
Spin Options: Suresh Silva, Niyon Perera, Gayan Silva
MILAN UNITED Key Players:
Damian Fernando, former Italian national player, all time top scorer for Milan United, loves playing the cover drive, will be the key man for MU.
Niyon Perera, right arm spinner, all time leading wicket taker for Milan United, very capable of deceiving the batsman with his flighted deliveries.
Suresh Silva, big hitting opening batsman, likes to dominate the bowlers from ball one, plays spin well, can roll his arm too with some delightful offies.
Both these sides are making their ECS debut in Milan, Fresh Tropical are the more highly-rated but will be wise not to underestimate Milan United.
Match Prediction: Fresh Tropical (FT) to get off to a flying start with a win.
__________________
MATCH 6 (ECS21.202)
BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC) v PIOLTELLO UNITED (PU)
0930 GMT | 1130 CEST | 1500 IST
BCC Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 113, Avg Score Against 108)
PU Last Five Matches: L L (Avg Score For 64, Avg Score Against 110)
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, started off well hammering 16 runs off just six balls, also picked up a wicket.
Jaspreet Singh, captain, all-rounder, member of current Italian team, was looking good with the bat scoring 17 off nine balls, returned figures of 2-21 with the ball.
Manpreet Singh, another Italian national team member, plundered 132 runs at a strike rate of over 280 in the previous edition.
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:
Ahmad Khan, top scorer for PU, scored an unbeaten 23 in the first match and grabbed a prized wicket of Joy Perera.
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, is very economical with the ball and picked up a wicket as well.
Hunain Ansari, played for Milan Kingsgrove in the previous edition, picked up three wickets from three matches.
Pioltello United are probably in for a very tough time in this series, while Bergamo are expected to qualify for the next stage.
Match Prediction: Bergamo (BCC) to bounce back from a shock defeat on day 1 with a comfortable win.
__________________
MATCH 7 (ECS21.203)
BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC) v MILAN KINGSGROVE (MK)
1130 GMT | 1330 CEST | 1700 IST
BCC Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 113, Avg Score Against 108)
MK Last Five Matches: L L L W L (Avg Score For 97, Avg Score Against 103)
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, started off well hammering 16 runs off just six balls, also picked up a wicket.
Jaspreet Singh, captain, all-rounder, member of current Italian team, was looking good with the bat scoring 17 off nine balls, returned figures of 2-21 with the ball.
Manpreet Singh, another Italian national team member, plundered 132 runs at a strike rate of over 280 in the previous edition.
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, a very useful all-rounder with international experience for Italy, scored an unbeaten 54 and picked up two wickets in a man of the match performance in the opening game.
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, looked in fine touch in the only game he played yesterday scoring 22 runs, would like to contribute heavily in this all important match.
Nimna Pauththuwadura, all-rounder, scalped three wickets from two matches with best figures of 2-11 vs PU.
Two experienced sides, Bergamo CC and Milan Kingsgrove, take on each other in this all important match up. The winner of this game will qualify for the next round along with Bogliasco from Group A.
Match Prediction: It’s too close to call between two evenly matched teams.
__________________
MATCH 8 (ECS21.204)
ALBANO (ALB) v MILAN CRICKET CLUB (MCC)
1330 GMT | 1530 CEST | 1900 IST
ALB Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
MCC Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
ALBANO (ALB)
Captain: Jorawar Singh
Wicketkeeper: Kamaljit Singh
Projected Top Four: Monu Lal, Satwinder Ram, Jorawar Singh, Asim Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Bharti Bangar, Monu Lal
Spin Options: Jorawar Singh, Asim Ali
ALBANO Key Players:
Jorawar Singh, captain, played for Bergamo CC in September 2020, racked up 122 at an SR of 235 including 11 LONG maximos, also picked up two wickets.
Asim Ali, all-rounder, bit hitter, loves to dominate the bowlers, played for Bergamo CC previously, picked up eight wickets with a best of 3-16.
Ajay Kumar, a handy middle order batsman capable of scoring quick runs, loves to play lofted shots, is a brilliant fielder.
MILAN CRICKET CLUB (MCC)
Captain: Alex Desai
Wicketkeeper: Pramod Kumar Sudida
Projected Top Four: Khurram Shahzad, Pramod Kumar Sudida, Mian Abdul Wadood, Kaushik Bhuva
Projected Opening Bowlers: Divyajit Vashi, Navod Dilanka
Spin Options: Kawisha Madduma, Nand Kumar, Sansala Perera
MILAN CRICKET CLUB Key Players:
Khurram Shahzad, experienced batsman capable of scoring quick runs, very strong on the leg side.
Mian Abdul Wadood, a key player, very elegant and likes to play with a straight bat.
Divyajit Vashia, will lead the attack for Milan CC, has good control with the new ball, relies on his swing more than his pace, bowls a lovely slower ball.
Muhib Khan, fast bowler, middle overs enforcer with good pace and accurate line and length.
Albano will take on hosts Milan CC in the last match of the day which promises to be another thrilling encounter. The two debutants boast some exciting young talent along with experienced players in their ranks.
Match Prediction: Albano (ALB) to edge Milan CC narrowly.
