European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Malta Encore on Monday 22 November.
Without serial winners Super Kings, we present a wide-open contest for our final event of another breathtaking year of action on the European Cricket Network.
Bugibba Blasters are the only debutant for the Encore and face a stiff test against tried and tested ECS performers, stacked with proven talent and experience.
In 2020, Southern Crusaders secured second spot in the group stages behind Knights with six wins, but fell at the semi-final hurdle to Marsa who timed their run to complete perfection. SOC were a little below par earlier this year with a 3-5 group stage record and made a premature quarter-final exit to Super Kings.
Mater Dei made a solid debut in the summer, but will have to improve on a 4-4 record, losing to the Knights in the quarter-finals. After a modest showing in 2020, Overseas were transformed earlier this year and following a serious improvement, marched all the way to the final, only to lose to the unstoppable Super Kings. Overseas will fancy their chances of going deep again from Group A.
In Group B, Marsa will be looking to repeat their strong showing from last season. After bagging only four wins in the group stages from ten games, Marsa marched to victory in 2020 following two strong knockout showings at absolutely the right time. Ironically, Marsa finished top of the group standings (6-2) earlier this year but lost in a massive shock in the quarter-final to debutants Swieqi United.
Atlas UTC Knights finished top of the standings during the group stages of the 2020 European Cricket Series Malta, the only unbeaten side with seven wins. However, Knights came unstuck in the all-important game, losing the Final unexpectedly to Marsa. After a promising 6-2 record in the group stages, the Knights came unstuck in the semi-finals earlier this summer to the overpowering Super Kings and will be looking to go one better this time around.
American University of Malta won only one game on debut in 2020 to languish at the bottom of the standings, but the University side made a massive improvement in the summer with four wins, before losing to Overseas in the quarter-finals. Gozo did manage to win one game on debut, but also racked up a series of unwanted records last season, including the lowest ever score in ECS history - SIX all out against SKI. Royal Strikers also managed only one win as well and have serious work to do as well to feature in the knockout stages.
Group A
BBL Bugibba Blasters (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MTD Mater Dei (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MSW Msida Warriors (0-0, NRR+0.000)
OVR Overseas (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SOC Southern Crusaders (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.876)
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC) v MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW)
0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST
MATCH 2 (ECS21.877)
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC) v MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW)
0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST
SOC Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 87, Avg Score Against 90)
MSW Last Five Matches: L L NR NR L (Avg Score For 66, Avg Score Against 88)
Official Betting Partner of the ECN Bet nowSOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC)
Captain: Zeshan Yousaf
Wicketkeeper: Cindu Shanmuganathan
Projected Top Four: Sumair Khan, Ezhaq Masih, Zeshan Yousaf, Bilal Khan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Bilal Khan, Zeshan Yousaf
Spin Options: Jojo Thomas, Suhrid Roy
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS Key Players:
Bilal Khan, is one of the fastest bowlers in Malta with the ability to move the ball both ways. Proved economical with the ball at ECS Malta earlier in the year conceding at just 4.70 rpo and getting FIVE prized wickets. He can also contribute with pinch hitting abilities.
Jojo Thomas, right arm finger spinner, finished leading wicket taker for SOC at FanCode ECS Malta scalping 12 wickets in nine games with a best return of 3-4.
Zeshan Yousaf, all-rounder, big hitting opener, moves the ball both ways, contributed in every game in the previous edition scoring 99 runs and picking up FIVE wickets. He will be leading the side this time around.
Lakshitha Senevirathana, the right arm medium pacer picked up eight wickets at FanCode ECS Malta earlier this year including his best ECS figures of 4-24 against Marsa.
MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW)
Captain: Shijil Joy
Wicketkeeper: Rockey Dainish
Projected Top Four: Sajith Sukumaran, Nandulal Sivan, Divyesh Kumar, Rahul Nair
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sajith Sukumaran, Basil Joy
Spin Options: Ashwin Paul
MSIDA WARRIORS Key Players:
Rahul Nair, star all-rounder, top run scorer for MSW in ECS Malta 2020 racking up 226 runs in eight innings. He also picked up FIVE wickets.
Basil Joy, right arm pacer, ended second highest wicket taker for MSW in ECS Malta 2020 scalping SIX wickets in six games.
Shijil Joy, right arm pacer, the skipper can bowl tidy spells in the middle overs, he scalped FOUR wickets at ECS Malta 2020 with a best return of 3-14.
Southern Crusaders has been one of the consistent sides in Malta reaching the knockouts in both previous ECS events. Msida Warriors enjoyed a decent run in the ECS Malta 2020 finishing fourth. SOC will be keen to go the distance this time around while MSW will also look for a better showing.
Last time they met: MSW 72 def SOC 61 (27 Nov 2020)
Match Prediction: Southern Crusaders (SOC) to make a fast start with a couple of wins.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.878)
OVERSEAS (OVR) v BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL)
1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST
MATCH 4 (ECS21.879)
OVERSEAS (OVR) v BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL)
1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST
OVR Last Five Matches: W L W W L (Avg Score For 102, Avg Score Against 82)
BBL Last Five Matches: ON ECS DEBUT
Official Betting Partner of the ECN Bet nowOVERSEAS (OVR)
Captain: David Marks
Wicketkeeper: Frank Spiteri
Projected Top Four: Frank Spiteri, Charl Kleine Punte, Sean Byrne, Ethan Xuereb
Projected Opening Bowlers: David Marks, Ethan Xuereb
Spin Options: Jurg Hirschi, Kivian Johnson
OVERSEAS Key Players:
Jurg Hirschi, right-arm leg-spinner, unorthodox but highly effective, leading wicket taker for OVR in the FanCode ECS Malta 2021 picking up 12 wickets in 11 games with a best return of 4-13.
Charl Kleine Punte, left-hand opening batter, 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 at FanCode ECS Malta 2021 mustering 177 runs in just seven games.
Frank Spiteri, all time leading run scorer for Malta, coming back to competitive cricket after an extended layoff due to injury and will be keen to perform.
BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL)
Captain: Partha Das
Wicketkeeper: Gaurav Maithani
Projected Top Four: Gaurav Maithani, Vijay Singh, Vinay Negi, Faiz Ullah
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sohan Singh, Suresh Dobal
Spin Options: Partha Das
BUGIBBA BLASTERS Key Players:
Gaurav Maithani, solid, technical top-order batter, boasts previous ECS experience playing for SOC in 2020, can hit big sixes and will be looking to provide fast starts.
Faiz Ullah, top-order batter with a cool and calm mindset, a good runner between the wickets who can convert singles into doubles, plays along the ground more often and is also good at finding gaps.
Partha Das, off-spinner, has played for the Lithuanian national side, capable of making significant impact in the middle overs restricting the run flow, was the best bowler in the Malta T20 Premier Cricket League 2021 scalping 13 wickets in six matches at an ER of 5.40.
Vinay Negi, a talented top-order batter with the ability to bowl at any slot with a tight line and length. He is a good hitter especially straight down the ground.
Bugibba Blasters make their ECS debut against Overseas, runners-up at FanCode ECS Malta 2021. OVR made a serious improvement from last year, but are without a few key players in this tournament. That said, OVR will fancy their chances of going one step further. BBL look a strong side and might give OVR a serious run for their money.
Match Prediction: Overseas and Bugibba Blasters to share the spoils with a win each.