European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 4 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Malta Encore on Thursday 25 November.
Leaders Mater Dei face a firm challenge against newcomers Bugibba Blasters while Overseas and Msida Warriors look to move up the ladder.
Group A
MTD Mater Dei (3-1, NRR+1.073)
SOC Southern Crusaders (3-3, NRR+0.300)
BBL Bugibba Blasters (2-2, NRR+0.585)
MSW Msida Warriors (2-2, NRR-0.238)
OVR Overseas (2-4, NRR-1.168)
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MATCH 13 (ECS21.888)
BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST
MATCH 14 (ECS21.889)
BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST
BBL Last Five Matches: L W W L (Avg Score For 95, Avg Score Against 89)
MTD Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 87, Avg Score Against 82)
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, second highest scorer in the tournament so far racking up 134 runs in four games including 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 77 runs in three innings including an unbeaten 52 off 35 balls.
Suresh Dobal, right-arm pacer, well known for his speed and is capable of swinging the ball both ways. Top wicket taker for BBL scalping FOUR wickets in four games.
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. Scored an unbeaten 29 in the only innings he batted. He also picked up a couple of wickets in the two games on Wednesday.
MATER 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. Highest scorer for MTD racking up 88 runs in four games.
Azeem Sathi, a destructive right handed batter, and fierce medium pace bowler, has looked in fine form scoring 69 runs in four games. He has 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. Has bagged a couple of player of the match awards for his impactful performances with both bat and ball scoring a total of 62 runs and picking up FIVE wickets.
Pintu Ghosh, the right arm medium pacer leads the wickets column for MTD picking up SIX wickets in four games including a match winning spell of 4-21 vs OVR.
Mater Dei took a giant leap moving up to the top spot after beating Overseas twice on Wednesday. MTD now face a strong looking Bugibba Blasters side who could prove to be tough competitors.
Match Prediction: Bugibba Blasters to trump MTD twice.
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MATCH 15 (ECS21.890)
MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST
MATCH 16 (ECS21.891)
MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW) v OVERSEAS (OVR)
1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST
MSW Last Five Matches: L W L L W (Avg Score For 78, Avg Score Against 83)
OVR Last Five Matches: L W L L L (Avg Score For 87, Avg Score Against 99)
Official Betting Partner of the ECN Bet nowMSIDA WARRIORS (MSW)
Captain: Shijil Joy
Wicketkeeper: Rockey Dianish
Projected Top Four: Sajith Sukumaran, Nandulal Sivan, Rockey Dianish, Divyesh Kumar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sajith Sukumaran, Basil Joy
Spin Options: Ashwin Paul
MSIDA WARRIORS Key Players:
Rockey Dianish, right handed top order batter, top scorer for MSW scoring 86 runs in four games.
Divyesh Kumar, right handed batter, second highest scorer for MSW racking up 54 runs in three innings. He also picked up THREE wickets.
Joy Mathai, right arm medium pacer, joint top wicket taker for MSW on Monday picking up FOUR wickets including a player of the match performance of 3-11.
Shijil Joy, right arm pacer, the skipper can bowl tidy spells in the middle overs, joint leading wicket taker for MSW scalping FOUR wickets in four games with a best return of 3-9.
OVERSEAS (OVR)
Captain: Jurg Hirschi
Wicketkeeper: Sean Byrne
Projected Top Four: Charl Kleine-Punte, David Marks, 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, the skipper has picked up THREE wickets and has mustered 55 runs.
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 156 runs in six games including a player of the match performance of 58* off 29 balls against BBL. He has also picked up THREE 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 71 runs in six games but will look to up his strike rate.
David Marks, right arm pace bowler, top wicket taker for OVR picking up FOUR victims in six games at an ER of 7.50.
Overseas dropped down to the last spot in Group A after a surprising couple of losses to MTD on Wednesday. OVR will be keen to turn things around against Msida Warriors who are returning after a day off.
Last time they met: OVR 89 def MSW 44(6) (D/L Method) (2 Dec 2020)
Match Prediction: Msida Warriors and Overseas to win a game apiece.