FanCode ECS Malta provides an opportunity for ten leading Maltese teams to showcase their skills on the magnificent island of Malta, contesting 48 games over 12 days. 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 Malta on Tuesday 15 June.
Apart from Overseas, Group B is stacked with newcomers as Mater Dei, Gozo, Super Kings and Swieqi United will all make their much-anticipated ECS debuts.
Overseas recovered from a sluggish start to win four games at our final tournament of last season and will aim to carry on that improvement at FanCode ECS Malta. Super Kings definitely look the best equipped to go deep in the competition after dominating the Malta cricket scene of late, finishing first and second in the league for the past two seasons. Super Kings are most definitely the team to beat in Group B and strong contenders for the title on debut.
Group B
GOZ Gozo (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MTD Mater Dei (0-0, NRR+0.000)
OVR Overseas (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SKI Super Kings (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SWU Swieqi United (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 5 (ECS21.440)
MATER DEI (MTD) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
MATCH 6 (ECS21.441)
MATER DEI (MTD) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
MTD Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
OVR Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 104, Avg Score Against 91)
MATER DEI (MTD)
Captain: Sam Aquilina
Wicketkeeper: Sam Aquilina
Projected Top Four: Cornelius Younus, Azeem Sathi, Michael Nazir, Sam Aquilina
Projected Opening Bowlers: Lazar Sharooon, Faisal Naeem
Spin Options: Michael Nazir, Atif Sharazy
MATER DEI Key Players:
Michael Nazir, former national team player, decent batsman who times the ball very well. A crafty off-spinner who can deceive batsmen with his change in pace.
Sam Aquilina, captain, middle order batsman,can help stabilise or increase the run rate when required.
Cornelius Younus, left-handed opening batsman who likes to go after the bowlers from ball one. Expect quick runs if he gets going.
Shrijay Patel, new addition to the MTD side, has impressed with his intelligent batting and a very good fielder. Handy seam bowler who usually bowls stump to stump.
OVERSEAS (OVR)
Captain: Jurg Hirschi
Wicketkeeper: Sean Byrne
Projected Top Four: Charl Kleinepunte, Andy Naudi, Callum Burke, Sean Byrne
Projected Opening Bowlers: David Marks, Eldon Pillay
Spin Options: Jurg Hirschi, Callum Burke, Andrew Naudi, Jack Barritt
OVERSEAS Key Players:
Jurg Hirschi, right-arm leg-spinner, unorthodox but highly effective, was joint leading wicket taker in December 2020 with 10 scalps.
Andy Naudi, top run scorer for Overseas amassing 224 runs in nine knocks last year, hit the most fours in the tournament - 24. Also chipped in with eight wickets.
Clyde Palmer, former first class keeper, hasn't lost any touch behind the stumps, good with the bat in the middle order.
Charl Kleinepunte, left-hand opening batsman, has the ability to bat through the innings. Also left-arm medium pacer who can swing it and extracts plenty of bounce off the pitch.
In the opening double header of Day 2, Overseas oppose debutants Mater Dei. After a horrible start with six straight losses, Overseas won their last four to just miss out on qualification for the knockout stages. As the only team with previous ECS experience in Group B, OVR will be aiming to keep up their winning run. However, Mater Dei have been on the scene for the last four years and should not be taken lightly. MTD possess some exciting players and can upset any team on their day.
Match Prediction: Mater Dei and Overseas to start their campaigns with a win apiece.
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MATCH 7 (ECS21.442)
SUPER KINGS (SKI) v SWIEQI UNITED (SWU)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
MATCH 8 (ECS21.443)
SUPER KINGS (SKI) v SWIEQI UNITED (SWU)
1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
SKI Last Five Matches: ON DEBUT
SWU Last Five Matches: ON DEBUT
SUPER KINGS (SKI)
Captain: Bikram Arora
Wicketkeeper: Affy Khan
Projected Top Four: Gopal Chaturvedi, Affy Khan, Varun Prasath, Bikram Arora
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ashok Bishnoi, Varun Prasath
Spin Options: Amar Sharma, Bikram Arora
SUPER KINGS Key Players:
Affy Khan, big hitter, can take the game away from the opposition in the blink of an eye, plundered 290 runs at a strike rate of 196, hammered the most sixes (22) in Malta Cricket League 2020.
Varun Prasath, leading run scorer in Malta Cricket League 2020, racking up 335 runs including a marvellous unbeaten century off 65 balls.
Amar Sharma ended up leading wicket taker in Malta Cricket League 2020 with 13 wickets from six matches conceding less than six rpo.
Ashok Bishnoi, leads the bowling attack for SKI, swings the ball away from right handers at pace, scalped 11 wickets in Malta Cricket League 2020 with best figures of 5-11.
SWIEQI UNITED (SWU)
Captain: Anil Qadir
Wicketkeeper: Anil Qadir
Projected Top Four: Imran Ameer, Tanveer Ahmed, Rana Amjad, Anil Qadir
Projected Opening Bowlers: Umar Khan, Bilal Khan
Spin Options: Imran Ameer
SWIEQI UNITED Key Players:
Anil Qadir, captain, can be a game changer with his six hitting abilities.
Imran Ameer, experienced opening batsman, has played domestic cricket in Pakistan and will be aiming to make a mark on the grand stage of European Cricket, also a good spinner and likely to chip in with a few wickets.
Bilal Khan, right-arm medium fast bowler, has good control over the ball, was leading wicket taker for his side last year in the Malta summer league.
Atta Rabi, talented right-handed batsman, was top run scorer for Swieqi United in the Malta summer league last year.
Super Kings have dominated Maltese cricket scene recently finishing first and second in the domestic league in the last two seasons. SKI will start favourites in the battle of the debutants. That said, Swieqi United have made a few new signings and will be looking to spring a surprise.
Match Prediction: Super Kings (SKI) to make a fast start with twin wins over Swieqi United.
