European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Italy Venice on Monday 29 March.
Our Italian venture moves to Venice for another week of exciting T10 action. With three out of five teams making their ECS debut, European Cricket continues to go from strength to strength in growing this beautiful sport in this beautiful continent.
LON Lonigo (0-0, NRR+0.000)
PAD Padova (0-0, NRR+0.000)
RCP Royal Cricket Padova (0-0, NRR+0.000)
TRA Trentino Aquila (0-0, NRR+0.000)
VENVenezia (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.173)
VENEZIA (VEN) v PADOVA (PAD)
0730 GMT | 0930 CET | 1300 IST
VEN Last Five Matches: L W W W L (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 119)
PAD Last Five Matches: W L W L L (Avg Score For 98, Avg Score Against 102)
VENEZIA (VEN)
Captain: Nazmul Haque
Wicketkeeper: Sojun Islam
Projected Top Four: Hosan Ahmed, Nazmul Haque, Shagar Choquder, Sharif Ahmmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shagar Choquder, Mahmudul Islam
Spin Options: Mehedi Nitol, Hosan Ahmed, Nazmul Haque
VENEZIA Key Players:
Nazmul Haque, captain, powerful hitter down the ground, loves playing the pull shot, leading run scorer in the previous edition with 342 runs including four fifties in seven games.
Shagar Choquder, leading all-rounder, can play shots all around the wicket, mustered 116 runs at a SR of 227 and picked up five wickets in November 2020.
Rajib Miah, leading wicket taker for VEN with 10 wickets from seven games with a best return of 3-11.
PADOVA (PAD)
Captain: Nuwan Sameera
Wicketkeeper: Tharuka Rodrigo
Projected Top Four: Cresley Fernando, Damith Kosala, Salinda Kodikara, Nuwan Sameera
Projected Opening Bowlers: Nuwan Sameera, Ramesh Silva
Spin Options: Nissanka Kuda, Damith Kosala, Cresley Fernando
PADOVA Key Players:
Nuwan Sameera, captain, RHB, most experienced batsman in the Padova side, former Italian National A team player, racked up 104 runs in the previous edition, also picked up seven wickets.
Akash Handun, leading wicket taker for PAD in the previous edition with eight scalps to his name.
Damith Kosala, stylish left-handed batsman, youngest member of the Padova side but very talented, has scored runs in abundance in the Italian domestic circuit and is regarded as run machine by his teammates.
Ghulam Abbas picked up eight wickets in the previous edition with a best of 3-20, can be a handy batsman down the order with a fifty to his name as well.
A meeting of two sides with previous ECS experience, but taking on each other for the first time. Venezia lost in the semi-finals in November after topping Group A, while Padova finished third in Group B.
Match Prediction: Venezia (VEN) to win this hotly-anticipated opening encounter.
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MATCH 2 (ECS21.174)
ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA (RCP) v TRENTINO AQUILA (TRA)
0930 GMT | 1130 CET | 1500 IST
RCP Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
TRA Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA (RCP)
Captain: Clarance Kumarasinghe
Wicketkeeper: Manoj Rodrigo
Projected Top Four: Warnakulasuriya Rodrigo, Clarance Kumarasinghe, Sameera Kurukulasuriya, Nishan Arachchige
Projected Opening Bowlers: Clarance Kumarasinghe, Dishan Fernando
Spin Options: Sajith Thenahandi,
ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA Key Players:
Clarance Kumarasinghe, captain, all-rounder, technically sound batsman, loves to play the cover drive, and an equally good left arm swing bowler.
Sameera Kurukulasuriya, all-rounder, decent top order batsman, bowls right arm fast, swings the ball both ways.
Dishan Fernando, big hitter, very strong straight down the ground and on the leg side, swing bowler.
Indika Fernando, all-rounder, relies on his technique, loves to play the cut shot, with lovely variations in his bowling.
TRENTINO AQUILA (TRA)
Captain: Ali Saqib Arshad
Wicketkeeper: Mazhar Waheed Abbasi
Projected Top Four: Usman Arshad, Atif Saleem Raza, Muhammad Waqas Asghar, Muhammad Waseem Asghar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ali Saqib Arshad, Awais Asghar
Spin Options: Muhammad Waqas Asghar
TRENTINO AQUILA Key Players:
Muhammad Waqas Asghar, one of the standout batsman in the Trentino side, capable of scoring quick runs.
Muhammad Waseem Asghar, brother of M Waqas Asghar, equally talented, loves playing lofted drives.
Ali Saqib Arshad, captain, right arm fast bowler with good pace and bounce, can swing the ball both ways and is a handy batsman down the order.
Royal Cricket Padova and Trentino Aquila make their ECS debut. TRA, 3-time Italian Champions in Serie A (50 over format), have seen many talented players move on and are in a rebuilding phase while RCP, founded in 2014, cannot call on much experience either. However, both teams will look to start their campaign on a positive note.
Match Prediction: Trentino Aquila (TRA) to clinch a narrow win.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.175)
PADOVA (PAD) v VENEZIA (VEN)
1130 GMT | 1330 CET | 1700 IST
PAD Last Five Matches: W L W L L (Avg Score For 98, Avg Score Against 102)
VEN Last Five Matches: L W W W L (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 119)
PADOVA (PAD)
Captain: Nuwan Sameera
Wicketkeeper: Tharuka Rodrigo
Projected Top Four: Nishermal Fernando, Damith Kosala, Salinda Kodikara, Nuwan Sameera
Projected Opening Bowlers: Nuwan Sameera, Ramesh Silva
Spin Options: Nissanka Kuda, Damith Kosala
PADOVA Key Players:
Nuwan Sameera, captain, RHB, most experienced batsman in the Padova side, former Italian National A team player, racked up 104 runs in the previous edition, also picked up seven wickets.
Akash Handun, leading wicket taker for PAD in the previous edition with eight scalps to his name.
Damith Kosala, stylish left-handed batsman, youngest member of the Padova side but very talented, has scored runs in abundance in the Italian domestic circuit and is regarded as run machine by his teammates.
Ghulam Abbas picked up eight wickets in the previous edition with a best of 3-20, can be a handy batsman down the order with a fifty to his name as well.
VENEZIA (VEN)
Captain: Nazmul Haque
Wicketkeeper: Sojun Islam
Projected Top Four: Hosan Ahmed, Nazmul Haque, Shagar Choquder, Sharif Ahmmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shagar Choquder, Mahmudul Islam
Spin Options: Mehedi Nitol, Hosan Ahmed, Nazmul Haque
VENEZIA Key Players:
Nazmul Haque, captain, powerful hitter down the ground, loves playing the pull shot, leading run scorer in the previous edition with 342 runs including four fifties in seven games.
Shagar Choquder, leading all-rounder, can play shots all around the wicket, mustered 116 runs at a SR of 227 and picked up five wickets in November 2020.
Rajib Miah, leading wicket taker for VEN with 10 wickets from seven games with a best return of 3-11.
An action replay of the opening game of the series. The winner will be keen to keep their winning run going, with the loser intent on making amends.
Last time they met: ECS21.173 | VEN 85(6.1) def PAD 81 (29 Mar 2021)
Match Prediction: Venezia (VEN) to win at a canter.
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MATCH 4 (ECS21.176)
TRENTINO AQUILA (TRA) v ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA (RCP)
1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
TRA Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
RCP Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
TRENTINO AQUILA (TRA)
Captain: Ali Saqib Arshad
Wicketkeeper: Mazhar Waheed Abbasi
Projected Top Four: Usman Arshad, Atif Saleem Raza, Muhammad Waqas Asghar, Muhammad Waseem Asghar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ali Saqib Arshad, Awais Asghar
Spin Options: Muhammad Waqas Asghar
TRENTINO AQUILA Key Players:
Muhammad Waqas Asghar, one of the standout batsman in the Trentino side, capable of scoring quick runs.
Muhammad Waseem Asghar, brother of M Waqas Asghar, equally talented, loves playing lofted drives.
Ali Saqib Arshad, captain, right arm fast bowler with good pace and bounce, can swing the ball both ways and is a handy batsman down the order.
ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA (RCP)
Captain: Clarance Kumarasinghe
Wicketkeeper: Manoj Rodrigo
Projected Top Four: Warnakulasuriya Rodrigo, Clarance Kumarasinghe, Sameera Kurukulasuriya, Nishan Arachchige
Projected Opening Bowlers: Clarance Kumarasinghe, Dishan Fernando
Spin Options: Sajith Thenahandi,
ROYAL CRICKET PADOVA Key Players:
Clarance Kumarasinghe, captain, all-rounder, technically sound batsman, loves to play the cover drive, and an equally good left arm swing bowler.
Sameera Kurukulasuriya, all-rounder, decent top order batsman, bowls right arm fast, swings the ball both ways.
Dishan Fernando, big hitter, very strong straight down the ground and on the leg side, swing bowler.
Indika Fernando, all-rounder, relies on his technique, loves to play the cut shot, with lovely variations in his bowling.
Two debutants meet for the second time on Monday. The winner will be keen to keep their momentum going, while the loser will be keen to rack up a first win.
Last time they met: ECS21.174 | TRA 95 def RCP 88 (29 Mar 2021)
Match Prediction: Royal Cricket Padova (RCP) to avenge a previous loss.