MATCH 27 (ECS21.462) ROYAL STRIKERS (RST) v SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC) 1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
RST Last Five Matches: L L L L (Avg Score For 74, Avg Score Against 111)
SOC Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 88, Avg Score Against 101)
Captain: Savio Thomas
Wicketkeeper: Sanish Mani
Projected Top Four: Sebin Thomas, Kushlesh Koppaka, Livin Varghese, Febin Poulose
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rubin James, Jaison Jerome
Spin Options: Sebin Thomas, Jithin Joy, Clinto Paul
ROYAL STRIKERS Key Players:
Livin Varghese, RHB, top scorer for Royal Strikers in 2020 summer league in Malta, has racked up 52 runs from four innings.
Savio Thomas, captain, leading from the front, top scoring for his side with 59 runs from four matches.
Sebin Thomas is a powerful hitter of the ball, loves taking on the new ball bowlers and will be key in providing brisk starts for his team, has picked up two wickets.
Captain: Michael Goonetilleke
Wicketkeeper: Gopal Thakur
Projected Top Four: Ryan Bastiansz, Michael Goonetilleke, Zeeshan Yousaf, Angelo Delardon
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zeeshan Yousaf, Lakshitha Senavirathna
Spin Options: Jojo Thomas, Ryan Bastiansz, Azwan Kamaleen, Eranga Jayawardhana, Aneel Shahid
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS Key Players:
Zeeshan Yousaf, all-rounder, big hitting opener, moves the ball both ways, picked up eight wickets leading the wicket taking charts and piled up 150 runs in the previous edition, is a good outfielder too. Has played good hands in all the games scoring 53 runs in all but will look to score big in the coming matches.
Ryan Ricky Bastiansz, scores quickly, is good off the back foot, mustered 175 runs including 15 towering sixes in the previous edition. He is currently leading the scoring sheets for SOC racking up 60 runs.
Jojo Thomas, right arm finger spinner, joint leading wicket taker scalping eight wickets with a best of 2-9 in December 2020. Picked up five wickets in four games leading the wicket taking sheets for SOC with a best return of 3-17.
Gopal Thakur, go-to-man with the bat for SOC in ECS Malta 2020, leading run-scorer racking up 199 runs with a best of 54.
Southern Crusaders and Royal Strikers are winless having lost all four matches. While SOC have succumbed to defeat in some tight finishes, RST look to be the weakest side in the group and may struggle to see off SOC.
Match Prediction: Southern Crusaders (SOC) to get off the mark with a comprehensive win.
