1st SEMI FINAL - MATCH 45 (ECS21.480) SWIEQI UNITED (SWU) v OVERSEAS (OVR) 0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
SWU Last Five Matches: W L L W W (Avg Score For 99, Avg Score Against 91)
OVR Last Five Matches: W W W L W (Avg Score For 118, Avg Score Against 84)
Captain: Anil Qadir
Wicketkeeper: Anil Qadir
Projected Top Four: Imran Ameer, Anil Qadir, Atta Rabi, Ijaz Hussain
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, has been in good form of late mustering 80 runs in his last three innings, overall second highest run scorer for SWU racking up a total of 125 runs from eight innings.
Imran Ameer, experienced opening batsman, has played domestic cricket in Pakistan, top scorer for SWU with 201 runs from eight matches including a fifty. Scored an unbeaten 42 off 21 balls to upset OVR in the last group match and followed it up with another unbeaten 41 off 29 balls in the quarter-final against Marsa to bag back-to-back man of the match awards. Also a good spinner and has chipped in with seven wickets as well.
Bilal Khan, right-arm medium fast bowler, has good control over the ball, leading wicket taker for his side last year in the Malta summer league. Has been economical with the ball picking up six wickets for SWU and has mustered 69 runs with the bat.
Arslan Ahmed, right arm fast bowler, has been impressive with the ball picking up six wickets in eight matches. Bowled an excellent spell in the quarter-final against Marsa conceding just six runs in two overs and sent back Marsa captain Haroon Mughal for a golden duck.
Captain: Jurg Hirschi
Wicketkeeper: Clyde Palmer
Projected Top Four: Clyde Palmer, Heinrich Gericke, Charl Kleinepunte, Andy Naudi
Projected Opening Bowlers: David Marks, Charl Kleinepunte
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 already picked up 10 wickets this time around in nine games with a best return of 4-13.
Andy Naudi is peaking at the right time for OVR mustering his first fifty this season against SWU and was awarded man of the match for his fine effort. Has racked up 95 runs in six innings and has contributed with the ball as well picking up six wickets.
Heinrich Gericke, in great form, scored 118 runs in five innings at a staggering strike rate of 251 including 14 huge maximos. The wicket-keeper batsman has scored about 85% of his runs in boundaries alone. Absolutely vital that he plays on Saturday.
Clyde Palmer has racked up 91 runs in four innings. Looked good with the ball on Thursday nailing yorkers at will and was rewarded with a couple of wickets as well.
Charl Kleinepunte, left-hand opening batsman, has the ability to bat through the innings. Also a left-arm medium pacer who can swing it and extracts plenty of bounce off the pitch, top scorer for OVR mustering 168 runs in just five games including a 29-ball 58 against MTD.
Swieqi United produced a massive shock to dump reigning champions Marsa out of the competition and sail unexpectedly into the semis. Overseas gave a cricketing lesson to American University of Malta on Friday and will be confident of carrying on in this vein. That said, these sides played out two thrilling matches in the group stages, sharing a win a piece only on Thursday.
Last time they met: ECS21.475 | SWU 111(9.3) def OVR 109 (24 Jun 2021)
Match Prediction: Overseas (OVR) to overwhelm Swieqi United and reach the final.
