MTD Last Five Matches: L L W W (Avg Score For 89, Avg Score Against 88)
GOZ Last Five Matches: L L L W (Avg Score For 53, Avg Score Against 130)
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. Top scorer for MTD after two games on Tuesday with 39 runs to his name.
Salman Khan, experienced off-spinner, is the joint top wicket taker MTD scalping FIVE wickets from two 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 66 runs from four matches .
Azeem Sathi, a destructive right handed batsman, and fierce medium pace bowler, has mustered 48 runs and is the joint leading wicket taker with five victims to his name. He has also won a man of the match award for his all-round performance.
Captain: Jerin Jacob
Wicketkeeper: Milton Devasia
Projected Top Four: Milton Devasia, Shibil Palakkalappi, Aji Wilson, Senthil Raj
Projected Opening Bowlers: Renju Ravi, Shibil Palakkalappi
Spin Options: Milton Devasia, Jerin Jacob, Tanu Babu
GOZO Key Players:
Milton Devasia, a decent spinner capable of deceiving batsmen, has picked up four wickets, and has scored 53 runs topping the scoring sheets for Gozo.
Sandeep Sasikumar, the right arm fast bowler was the most impressive GOZ bowler on debut. On a day when all his counterparts were being thrashed to all parts of the ground, he conceded just SEVEN runs per over. He now leads the wicket taking sheets for his side with FOUR scalps and his economy has dropped down to just 5.51.
Shibil Palakkalappi, the all-rounder has been good with the ball picking up three wickets and has contributed with the bat as well scoring 35 runs - second most for Gozo.
After a challenging opening day, newcomers Gozo turned things around nicely to register their first ever ECS win. GOZ face Mater Dei who serenely won back-to-back games against SWU and would see these as winnable games too. A couple of wins here would mean MTD will finish at least third, if not higher.
Match Prediction: Mater Dei (MTD) to rack up a third win.