European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 5 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy, Milan on Friday 9 April.
Bergamo United, Winners of ECS Rome in November 2020, started the second round with serious intent racking up two comfortable wins. Local rivals Bergamo CC have shown glimpses of what they are capable of, while Fresh Tropical, Albano and Bogliasco are all decent sides on their day.
Teams
BU Bergamo United (2-0, NRR+3.033)
BCC Bergamo CC (1-1, NRR+0.646, 3-2 overall)
FT Fresh Tropical (1-1, NRR-0.294, 3-2 overall)
BOG Bogliasco (0-1, NRR-3.300, 3-1 overall)
ALB Albano (0-1, NRR-3.400, 3-1 overall)
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MATCH 17 (ECS21.213)
BOGLIASCO (BOG) v FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
0730 GMT | 0930 CEST | 1300 IST
BOG Last Five Matches: W W W L (Avg Score For 97, Avg Score Against 95)
FT Last Five Matches: W L W W L (Avg Score For 122, 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:
Supun Tharanga, all-rounder, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, has racked up 76 runs and scalped seven wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.
Niranga Malameege, has seven scalps from four games including a man of the match performance of 4-15 vs MK.
Sachin Tharuka, leading wicket taker at the end of day 4 with 8 scalps to his name including a best return of 3-31.
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, top run scorer so far with 183 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls vs MCC, has also picked up three wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 109 runs from five games including eight 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 four wickets from five games.
A meeting of two evenly matched sides, both these teams will look to bounce back from their previous defeat.
Match Prediction: Fresh Tropical (FT) to win a close contest
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MATCH 18 (ECS21.214)
ALBANO (ALB) v BERGAMO UNITED (BU)
0930 GMT | 1130 CEST | 1500 IST
ALB Last Five Matches: W W W L (Avg Score For 110, Avg Score Against 100)
BU Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 126, Avg Score Against 90)
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, scored a match winning knock of 38 not out against Milan United, has also picked up four wickets.
Satwinder Ram, solid opening batsman, top scorer for ALB, hammered 119 runs from four 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 60 runs and picked up five wickets, is a good fielder too.
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:
Ahtasham Javaid, started off with a blistering knock off 84* off just 37 balls including eight maximos.
Rizwan Tahir, good opening batsman, top scorer in the previous edition, looked very comfortable with the bat in the only game he batted, scoring 26 off 15 balls.
Mubashir Amin, big hitter, likes to play the pull and hook shots, looked good in his short stay at the crease mustering 38 runs from two games at an SR of 200.
Ravi Paul, all-rounder, picked up three wickets from two games yesterday including a man of the match performance of 2-10 vs FT.
Albano face a stiff task taking on tournament favourites Bergamo United who will look to cement numero uno position to get a direct ticket to the Final. A loss here for ALB will make their next two games must wins if they are to have a shot at the title.
Match Prediction: Bergamo United (BU) to go marching on with their third straight win.
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MATCH 19 (ECS21.215)
BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC) v BOGLIASCO (BOG)
1130 GMT | 1330 CEST | 1700 IST
BCC Last Five Matches: L W W L W (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 97)
BOG Last Five Matches: W W W L (Avg Score For 97, Avg Score Against 95)
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 136 runs from five games at a SR of 189 including a MoM performance of 61 vs Albano.
Manpreet Singh, elegant opening batsman, has amassed 116 runs including a 29-ball 59 vs FT yesterday.
Chetan Kumar, all-rounder, top wicket taker for BCC with six scalps to his name, a good top order batsman with 62 runs.
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:
Supun Tharanga, all-rounder, has played for the Italian national team, aggressive batsman, has racked up 76 runs and scalped seven wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.
Niranga Malameege, has seven scalps from four games including a man of the match performance of 4-15 vs MK.
Sachin Tharuka, leading wicket taker at the end of day 4 with 8 scalps to his name including a best return of 3-31.
Debutants Bogliasco upset Bergamo CC in their previous encounter and need a repeat performance to stay alive in the competition, especially if Fresh Tropical beat them earlier in the day.
Last time they met: ECS21.200 | BOG 89(9.3) def BCC 86 (5 Apr 2021)
Match Prediction: Bergamo CC (BCC) to edge a nail biting victory.
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MATCH 20 (ECS21.216)
FRESH TROPICAL (FT) v ALBANO (ALB)
1430 GMT | 1630 CEST | 2000 IST
FT Last Five Matches: W L W W L (Avg Score For 122, Avg Score Against 102)
ALB Last Five Matches: W W W L (Avg Score For 110, Avg Score Against 100)
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, top run scorer so far with 183 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls in his last innings, has also picked up three wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 109 runs from five games including eight 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 four wickets from five games.
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, scored a match winning knock of 38 not out against Milan United, has also picked up four wickets.
Satwinder Ram, solid opening batsman, top scorer for ALB, hammered 119 runs from four games including an unbeaten fifty off just 24 balls which earned him the man of the match award.
Monu Lal, all-round cricketer, good fielder, hard hitter has mustered 60 runs and picked up five wickets.
Both these sides will be desperate for the points to progress in the competition. Albano will need to find inspiration from their previous win over Fresh Tropical to keep their hopes alive.
Last time they met: ECS21.206 | ALB 88(9.1) def FT 85 (7 Apr 2021)
Match Prediction: Fresh Tropical (FT) to avenge that previous defeat.