European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 3 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Malta Encore on Wednesday 24 November.
The win percentage of all five teams in this FanCode ECS Malta Encore is 50% so far. Will the pattern continue on day three or will it change?
Group A
SOC Southern Crusaders (2-2, NRR+0.774)
MSW Msida Warriors (2-2, NRR-0.238)
OVROverseas (2-2, NRR-0.439)
BBL Bugibba Blasters (1-1, NRR+0.371)
MTD Mater Dei (1-1, NRR-0.514)
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MATCH 9 (ECS21.884)
BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL) v SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC)
0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST
MATCH 10 (ECS21.885)
BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL) v SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC)
0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST
BBL Last Five Matches: L W (Avg Score For 109, Avg Score Against 106)
SOC Last Five Matches: L L W L W (Avg Score For 73, Avg Score Against 85)
Official Betting Partner of the ECN Bet nowBUGIBBA 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. Scored an unbeaten 77 off 30 balls vs OVR on Monday.
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. Second highest scorer for BBL racking up 73 runs in two games including an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls.
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.
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC)
Captain: Zeshan Yousaf
Wicketkeeper: Cindu Shanmuganathan
Projected Top Four: Sumair Khan, Ezhaq Masih, Zeshan Yousaf, Muhammad Bilal
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. Second highest wicket taker for SOC picking up FIVE wickets in four games at an ER of 3.25.
Jojo Thomas, right arm finger spinner, has picked up FOUR wickets in four games including a best return of 3-14 vs OVR on Tuesday.
Zeshan Yousaf, all-rounder, big hitting opener, moves the ball both ways, top wicket taker for SOC scalping SIX victims in four games. He has also scored 50 runs.
Ishantha Kariyawasam, right handed batter, top scorer for SOC so far racking up 54 runs in three games.
Newcomers Bugibba Blasters take on Southern Crusaders in the opening double header. Soc and BBL are the only two sides with a positive NRR so far but SOC sit atop the group with a couple of wins.
Match Prediction: Bugibba Blasters and Southern Crusaders to share the spoils with a win apiece.
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MATCH 11 (ECS21.886)
MATER DEI (MTD) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST
MATCH 12 (ECS21.887)
MATER DEI (MTD) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST
MTD Last Five Matches: L L L W L (Avg Score For 78, Avg Score Against 93)
OVR Last Five Matches: L W L W L (Avg Score For 93, Avg Score Against 104)
Official Betting Partner of the ECN Bet nowMATER DEI (MTD)
Captain: Sam Aquilina
Wicketkeeper: Sam Aquilina
Projected Top Four: Cornelius Younus, Azeem Sathi, Muhammad Suleman, Michael Nazir
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rency Jacob, Edward Mahima
Spin Options: Michael Nazir, Atif Sharazy, Salman Khan
MATER DEI Key Players:
Cornelius Younus, left-handed opening batsman who likes to go after the bowlers from ball one. He was the second highest scorer for MTD with 112 runs from nine matches. He racked up 31 runs in two games on Tuesday.
Azeem Sathi, a destructive right handed batter, and fierce medium pace bowler, top scorer for MTD in the previous edition racking up 125 runs. He also picked up SEVEN wickets. Looked good on Tuesday scoring 35 runs at a SR of 194 and also picked up a couple of wickets.
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. Racked up 94 runs in eight innings and has picked up FOUR wickets with the ball. Scored 35 runs in two games on Tuesday.
Salman Khan, experienced off-spinner, scalped SEVEN wickets from seven matches with a best return of 3-4.
OVERSEAS (OVR)
Captain: Jurg Hirschi
Wicketkeeper: Frank Spiteri
Projected Top Four: Heinrich Gericke, Charl Kleine-Punte, Frank Spiteri, Sean Byrne
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, picked up a couple of wickets on Tuesday.
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 in the tournament so far racking up 123 runs in four games including a player of the match performance of 58* off 29 balls against BBL. He has also picked up a couple of wickets.
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. Has scored 53 runs in four games
Heinrich Gericke, Malta international player, was in ominous hitting form in June earlier this year scoring 142 runs in seven innings at a staggering strike rate of 245 including 15 huge maximos. The wicket-keeper batter scored over 83% of his runs in boundaries alone.
Sean Byrne, the right handed batter is the second highest scorer for OVR racking up 82 runs in four games including a 26-ball 60 vs BBL.
Like the other four teams, Mater Dei too shared the spoils in their opening double header. MTD now face runners-up from the previous edition Overseas.
Last time they met: ECS21.441 | OVR 85(7.3) def MTD 82 (15 Jun 2021)
Match Prediction: Both MTD and OVR to rack up a win each.