European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 9 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Malta on Wednesday 23 June.
An interesting day lies in store in Malta with Super Kings looking to maintain their unbeaten record against Mater Dei, while Overseas will be strong favourites against stragglers Gozo.
Group B
SKISuper Kings (6-0, NRR+7.952)
MTDMater Dei (4-2, NRR+1.115)
OVROverseas (2-2, NRR+0.139)
SWUSwieqi United (1-5, NRR-3.206)
GOZGozo (1-5, NRR-6.632)
__________________
MATCH 33 (ECS21.468)
SUPER KINGS (SKI) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
MATCH 34 (ECS21.469)
SUPER KINGS (SKI) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
SKI Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 137, Avg Score Against 58)
MTD Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 104, Avg Score Against 74)
Captain: Bikram Arora
Wicketkeeper: Affy Khan
Projected Top Four: Gopal Chaturvedi, Affy Khan, Varun Prasath, Bikram Arora
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rency Jacob, 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. Scored his maiden ECS fifty against Gozo hammering an unbeaten 24-ball 79. He is second highest scorer for SKI with 169 runs at a staggering strike rate of 252.
Varun Prasath, leading run scorer in Malta Cricket League 2020, racking up 335 runs including a marvellous unbeaten century off 65 balls. The left-hander is leading the scoring sheets here as well, plundering 232 runs from six games at a strike rate of 221!
Bikram Arora, SKI and Malta national team captain, returned to the side after the birth of his baby boy and celebrated it with a fantastic fifty in the opening game on Thursday. Has racked up 103 runs from four matches so far.
Amar Sharma ended up leading wicket taker in Malta Cricket League 2020 with 13 wickets from six matches conceding less than six rpo. The spinner has picked up seven wickets so far with a best return of 3-2.
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:
Salman Khan, experienced off-spinner, is the second highest wicket taker MTD scalping SIX wickets from four matches with a best return of 3-4.
Cornelius Younus, left-handed opening batsman who likes to go after the bowlers from ball one. Expect quick runs if he gets going. He is the top scorer for MTD with 108 runs from six matches .
Azeem Sathi, a destructive right handed batsman, and fierce medium pace bowler, has mustered 63 runs and picked up six victims. He has also won a man of the match award for his all-round performance.
Faisal Naeem, the 35-year old medium pacer is the top wicket taker for MTD with EIGHT wickets from six matches and a best return of 3-14.
Super Kings have looked the best team in Malta and will be supremely confident of beating Mater Dei twice. MTD have been inconsistent but have managed to win four games on the trot. MTD do have some talented individuals, should SKI slip from their performance levels.
Match Prediction: Super Kings (SKI) look set to continue their unbeaten run with two comfortable wins.
__________________
MATCH 35 (ECS21.470)
GOZO (GOZ) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
MATCH 36 (ECS21.471)
GOZO (GOZ) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
GOZ Last Five Matches: L L W L L (Avg Score For 68, Avg Score Against 107)
OVR Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 93, Avg Score Against 88)
Captain: Jerin Jacob
Wicketkeeper: Milton Devasia
Projected Top Four: Milton Devasia, Jerin Jacob, Ajeesh Antony, Senthil Raj
Projected Opening Bowlers: Renju Ravi, Shibil Palakkalappi
Spin Options: Milton Devasia, Jerin Jacob, Tanu Babu
GOZO Key Players:
Milton Devasia, all-rounder, is top scorer for Gozo with 90 runs from six matches, a decent spinner capable of deceiving batsmen, has picked up four wickets.
Sandeep Sasikumar, the right arm fast bowler was the most impressive GOZ bowler on debut. First Gozo player to win a man of the match award on the grand stage of European Cricket, leads the wicket taking charts for Gozo with SIX scalps.
Senthil Raj, the all-rounder has racked up 65 runs in four matches and has picked up three wickets as well.
Shibil Palakkalappi, the all-rounder has been good with the ball picking up three wickets and has contributed with the bat as well scoring 46 runs - third most for Gozo.
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, joint leading wicket taker in December 2020 with 10 scalps. Has picked up SEVEN wickets in four games with a best return of 4-13.
Callum Burke, the all-rounder returned with impressive figures of 4-1 and mustered 37 runs in the second game to bag a man of the match award. Second highest scorer for OVR racking up 86 runs in three innings.
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, top scored for OVR mustering 91 runs including a 29-ball 58 against MTD.
Clyde Palmer, former first class keeper, hasn't lost any touch behind the stumps, good with the bat in the middle order. Has racked up 49 runs in two matches.
Gozo were on the receiving end of an almighty hammering against favourites Super Kings, creating a host of unwanted records in the process. Overseas pushed Super Kings to the brink last week and will be strong favourites for the two wins.
Match Prediction: Overseas (OVR) to overwhelm Gozo and grab two victories.