MATCH 20 (ECS21.455) OVERSEAS (OVR) v SUPER KINGS (SKI) 1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
OVR Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 108, Avg Score Against 75)
SKI Last Five Matches: W W W W (Avg Score For 148, Avg Score Against 50)
Captain: Jurg Hirschi
Wicketkeeper: Sean Byrne
Projected Top Four: Clyde Palmer, Andy Naudi, Callum Burke, Sean Byrne
Projected Opening Bowlers: David Marks, Andy Naudi
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. Started the season picking up six wickets in two games with a best return of 4-13.
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.
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.
Clyde Palmer, former first class keeper, hasn't lost any touch behind the stumps, good with the bat in the middle order.
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. Scored his maiden ECS fifty against Gozo hammering an unbeaten 24-ball 79.
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 started off with a bang plundering 133 runs from four games including 29-ball 63 vs SWU and is the second highest run scorer so far.
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.
Ashok Bishnoi, leads the bowling attack for SKI, swings the ball away from right handers at pace, is the top wicket taker so far scalping 11 wickets from four matches. Returned second best figures in ECS history, 6-3, against Gozo earning a man of the match award as well.
A meeting of the top two in the group, one of whom will taste defeat for the first time on Friday. Super Kings made history on Thursday (insert link) and will be looking to keep their winning momentum going. Overseas are much improved from last season and will provide the stiffest test to Super Kings unbeaten record.
Match Prediction: Super Kings (SKI) to make it six straight wins.
