European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 6 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy, Milan on Saturday 10 April.
Bergamo United go into Finals Day as strong favourites having already qualified for the Final on the back of three straight wins which earned them top spot with a game to spare. It’s going to take a complete team performance from the remaining candidates to prevent the ECS Rome champions from lifting more silverware.
Teams
BU Bergamo United (4-0, NRR+2.695)
FT Fresh Tropical (2-2, NRR-0.009, 4-3 overall)
BOG Bogliasco (2-2, NRR-0.958, 5-2 overall)
BCC Bergamo CC (1-3, NRR-0.316, 3-3 overall)
ALB Albano (1-3, NRR-1.400, 4-3 overall)
__________________
FINAL - MATCH 24 (ECS21.220)
BERGAMO UNITED (BU) v FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
1500 GMT | 1700 CEST | 2030 IST
BU Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 124, Avg Score Against 89)
FT Last Five Matches: W L W L W (Avg Score For 116, Avg Score Against 113)
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, has mustered 142 runs from four matches with 12 maximos.
Mubashir Amin, good opening batsman, scored a blistering 83 not out off just 35 balls earlier in the day vs BCC.
Mukhtar Muhammad, first bowler to pick up a hat-trick in Milan this season, returning figures of 4-2 vs Albano yesterday.
Ravi Paul, leading wicket taker in the previous edition, has been sharp with the ball, picking up four wickets from four games.
FRESH TROPICAL (FT)
Captain: Muhammad Imran
Wicketkeeper: Ammar Rasool
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 256 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls vs MCC, has also picked up four wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 199 runs from eight games including 15 maximos, scored a 25-ball 59 yesterday to help FT chase a big total vs BOG yesterday, also has four wickets to his name.
Zahid Cheema, Italian international fast bowler, has been outstanding with the ball not conceding many runs, picked up seven wickets from seven games.
Zain Naqvi, all-rounder, hard hitting opening batsman with 148 runs to his name, scored more than 78 percent of his runs in boundaries, has also picked up five wickets.
Favourites Bergamo United have dominated from the first game winning all four matches comfortably and look all set to win the silverware while debutants Fresh Tropical have been highly impressive playing some quality cricket throughout the tournament. FT will surely test Bergamo United in this all important Final and might ring up a surprise.
Last time they met: ECS21.212 | BU 93(8) def FT 90 (8 Apr 2021)
Match Prediction: Bergamo United (BU) to romp home with a win in a thrilling Final.
__________________
ELIMINATOR - MATCH 23 (ECS21.219)
FRESH TROPICAL (FT) v BOGLIASCO (BOG)
1200 GMT | 1400 CEST | 1730 IST
FT Last Five Matches: W W L W L (Avg Score For 126, Avg Score Against 107)
BOG Last Five Matches: W L L W W (Avg Score For 102, Avg Score Against 108)
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 219 runs, mustered an unbeaten 97 off just 30 balls vs MCC, has also picked up four wickets with his mysterious leg spin.
Amir Sharif, aggressive opening batsman, racked up 195 runs from seven games including 15 maximos, scored a 25-ball 59 yesterday to help FT chase a big total vs BOG yesterday.
Zahid Cheema, Italian international fast bowler, has been outstanding in the powerplay not conceding many runs, picked up six wickets from six games.
Zain Naqvi, all-rounder, hard hitting opening batsman with 118 runs to his name, scored more than 76 percent of his runs in boundaries, has also picked up five wickets.
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, top scorer for BOG racking up 154 runs from seven games and has scalped seven wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.
Madupa Fernando, captain, all-rounder, scored an unbeaten 44 and picked up three wickets in a crunch match against Albano today.
Niranga Malameege, has nine scalps from seven games including a man of the match performance of 4-15 vs MK.
Sachin Tharuka, leading wicket taker for BOG with nine scalps to his name including a best return of 3-31, scored a quickfire 45 off just 20 balls vs Albano in the previous game.
Bogliasco will be confident going into this game after scraping past Albano in their last game to qualify for this eliminator. Impressive throughout the tournament, Fresh Tropical will be keen to win this crunch eliminator and test themselves against buoyant Bergamo United in the Final.
Last time they met: ECS21.213 | FT 121(8.5) def BOG 120 (9 Apr 2021)
Match Prediction: Fresh Tropical (FT) to qualify for the Final.
__________________
MATCH 21 (ECS21.217)
BERGAMO UNITED (BU) v BERGAMO CRICKET CLUB (BCC)
0700 GMT | 0900 CEST | 1230 IST
BU Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 115, Avg Score Against 89)
BCC Last Five Matches: W W L W L (Avg Score For 114, Avg Score Against 98)
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, has mustered 129 runs from three matches with 11 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.
Mukhtar Muhammad, first bowler to pick up a hat-trick in Milan, returning figures of 4-2 vs Albano yesterday.
Ravi Paul, leading wicket taker in the previous edition, has been sharp with the ball, picking up three wickets from three games.
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 153 runs from six games at a SR of 182 and has picked up five wickets.
Jaspreet Singh, captain, leading wicket taker for BCC, has serious pace and swings the ball both ways, scalped seven wickets with a best return of 3-14.
Manpreet Singh, elegant opening batsman, has amassed 127 runs including a 29-ball 59 vs FT on Thursday.
Chetan Kumar, all-rounder, has six scalps to his name and is a good top order batsman with 79 runs.
An exciting local derby awaits here in Milan as Bergamo United face Bergamo CC in a much-anticipated opening match of the day. It’s a must win game for BCC to make the eliminator.
Match Prediction: Bergamo United (BU) to win the derby and send their local rivals packing.
__________________
MATCH 22 (ECS21.218)
BOGLIASCO (BOG) v ALBANO (ALB)
0900 GMT | 1100 CEST | 1430 IST
BOG Last Five Matches: W W L L W (Avg Score For 101, Avg Score Against 108)
ALB Last Five Matches: W W L L W (Avg Score For 96, Avg Score Against 103)
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, top scorer for BOG racking up 146 runs from six games and has scalped seven wickets with his clever off-spin bowling.
Madupa Fernando, captain, all-rounder, has amassed over hundred runs and picked up three wickets, is a gun fielder and holds on to everything that comes his way.
Niranga Malameege, has nine scalps from six games including a man of the match performance of 4-15 vs MK.
Sachin Tharuka, leading wicket taker for BOG with nine scalps to his name including a best return of 3-31, is a handy batsman capable enough to score quick runs.
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, has mustered 85 runs including a man of the match performance of 40 off 17 balls in a must win game against FT yesterday, also has five scalps to his name.
Muhammad Zaki, young and talented fast bowler, bowls at good pace and has a knack of picking wickets, has scalped eight wickets from four matches at an economy rate of just 5!
Monu Lal, all-round cricketer, good fielder, hard hitter has mustered 118 runs including a crucial 16-ball 40 yesterday and has picked up five wickets.
Bharti Bangar, leading wicket taker with 10 scalps from six matches, has the tendency to swing the ball into the right hander with decent pace.
These two sides will come into this game with all or nothing to play for. Both Bogliasco and Albano are evenly matched and can seal third spot provided Bergamo United win the local derby against Bergamo CC. If that does not materialise, this match becomes a dead rubber.
Match Prediction: Both teams managed unlikely wins in their last games. It is tough to call but the team batting first would hold a slight advantage.