European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 4 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy, Milan on Thursday 8 April.
Bergamo United, Winners of ECS Rome in September 2020, enter the fray for the second round, joined by the top two teams from each of the groups. Favourites Bergamo United are hotly-fancied, but might struggle at the start of the second round due to lack of match practice. Albano, Bergamo CC, Bogliasco and Fresh Tropical will all look to take advantage of any rustiness.
Teams
ALB Albano (0-0, NRR+0.000, 3-0 overall)
BCC Bergamo CC (0-0, NRR+0.000, 2-1 overall)
BU Bergamo United (0-0, NRR+0.000)
BOG Bogliasco (0-0, NRR+0.000, 3-0 overall)
FT Fresh Tropical (0-0, NRR+0.000, 2-1 overall)
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MATCH 13 (ECS21.209)
BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC) v FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
0730 GMT | 0930 CEST | 1300 IST
BCC Last Five Matches: W L L W W (Avg Score For 111, Avg Score Against 101)
FT Last Five Matches: W L W (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 96)
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 player, top scorer for BCC with 71 runs from three games at a SR of 192.
Jaspreet Singh, captain, all-rounder, current member of Italian team, swings the ball both ways, can bowl good bouncers to surprise batsmen, has scalped three wickets and is capable of scoring quick runs.
Narinder Gidda, top wicket taker for BCC with five scalps to his name, has been economical with best returns of 3-9.
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, decent top order batsman, loves playing the on drive, top run scorer so far with 149 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls in his last innings, has also picked up two wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 84 runs from three games including six maximos and a best score of 44 not out.
Zahid Cheema, Italian international fast bowler, has been outstanding in the powerplay not conceding many runs, picked up two wickets from three games.
Fresh Tropical are coming into this game on the back of a spectacular performance and will fancy their chances against an experienced Bergamo CC side, who will look to get things going after blowing hot and cold in the first round.
Match Prediction: A cracking opening game of the second round awaits with Fresh Tropical (FT) holding a slight edge over hotly fancied Bergamo CC.
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MATCH 14 (ECS21.210)
BOGLIASCO (BOG) v BERGAMO UNITED (BU)
0930 GMT | 1130 CEST | 1500 IST
BOG Last Five Matches: W W W (Avg Score For 97, Avg Score Against 83)
BU Last Five Matches: W L W W W (Avg Score For 112, Avg Score Against 78)
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, looked good vs BCC after a couple of failures, he would like to get back in form against the reigning ECS Rome champions Bergamo United.
Supun Tharanga, all-rounder, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, has racked up 75 runs and scalped six wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.
Niranga Malameege, top wicket taker for BOG with seven scalps from three games including a man of the match performance of 4-15 vs MK.
BERGAMO UNITED (BU)
Captain: Azmat Ali
Wicketkeeper: Mubashir Amin
Projected Top Four: Rizwan Tahir, Ahtasham Javaid, Mubashir Amin, Sadat Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ravi Paul, Faisal Muhammad
Spin Options: Azmat Ali, Mubashar Hussain
BERGAMO UNITED Key Players:
Rizwan Tahir, top run scorer for Bergamo United in ECS Rome Sept 2020 racking up 187 runs including 11 maximos.
Mubashir Amin, big hitter, like to play the pull and hook shots, mustered 147 runs in the previous edition at a strike rate of 188
Ravi Paul, leading wicket taker in the previous edition with 16 scalps to his name from eight games at an economy rate of under 7.
Bergamo United enter the fray against in-form debutants Bogliasco and it will be interesting to see how the tournament favourites fare against the newcomers.
Match Prediction: Bergamo United (BU) to start their campaign with a win.
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MATCH 15 (ECS21.211)
ALBANO (ALB) v BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC)
1130 GMT | 1330 CEST | 1700 IST
ALB Last Five Matches: W W W (Avg Score For 110, Avg Score Against 84)
BCC Last Five Matches: W L L W W (Avg Score For 111, Avg Score Against 101)
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:
Asim Ali, all-rounder, bit hitter, loves to dominate the bowlers, played for Bergamo CC previously, made a significant contribution (38* off 24 balls) in his last knock to take his side home, has also picked up three wickets.
Satwinder Ram, solid opening batsman, hammered 99 runs from three games including an unbeaten fifty off just 24 balls which earned him the man of the match award.
Monu Lal, all-round cricketer, hard hitter of the ball, has mustered 53 runs and picked up three wickets, is a good fielder too.
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 player, top scorer for BCC with 71 runs from three games at a SR of 192.
Jaspreet Singh, captain, all-rounder, current member of Italian team, swings the ball both ways, can bowl good bouncers to surprise batsmen, has scalped three wickets and is capable of scoring quick runs.
Narinder Gidda, top wicket taker for BCC with five scalps to his name, has been economical with best returns of 3-9.
After dominating the first two games, Albano seemed to struggle in the third, but managed to keep their winning streak going. With the firepower Bergamo CC boasts in their bowling lineup, ALB might struggle and succumb to the pressure especially if they are chasing.
Match Prediction: Bergamo CC (BCC) to bag a narrow win.
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MATCH 16 (ECS21.212)
BERGAMO UNITED (BU) v FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
1330 GMT | 1530 CEST | 1900 IST
BU Last Five Matches: W L W W W (Avg Score For 112, Avg Score Against 78)
FT Last Five Matches: W L W (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 96)
BERGAMO UNITED (BU)
Captain: Azmat Ali
Wicketkeeper: Mubashir Amin
Projected Top Four: Rizwan Tahir, Ahtasham Javaid, Mubashir Amin, Sadat Ali
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ravi Paul, Faisal Muhammad
Spin Options: Azmat Ali, Mubashar Hussain
BERGAMO UNITED Key Players:
Rizwan Tahir, top run scorer for Bergamo United in ECS Rome Sept 2020 racking up 187 runs including 11 maximos.
Mubashir Amin, big hitter, like to play the pull and hook shots, mustered 147 runs in the previous edition at a strike rate of 188
Ravi Paul, leading wicket taker in the previous edition with 16 scalps to his name from eight games at an economy rate of under 7.
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, decent top order batsman, loves playing the on drive, top run scorer so far with 149 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls in his last innings, has also picked up two wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 84 runs from three games including six maximos and a best score of 44 not out.
Zahid Cheema, Italian international fast bowler, has been outstanding in the powerplay not conceding many runs, picked up two wickets from three games.
Bergamo United lock horns with another debutant Fresh Tropical in the final match of the day and will be keen to end the day on a high.
Match Prediction: Bergamo United (BU) to win convincingly.