European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 5 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Malta Encore on Friday 26 November.
Group A action nears its end, four mouthwatering matches awaits with the top four teams very much in contention for the top spot.
Group A
MTDMater Dei (3-1-2, NRR+1.073)
BBLBugibba Blasters (2-2-2, NRR+0.585)
SOCSouthern Crusaders (3-3, NRR+0.300)
MSWMsida Warriors (2-2-2, NRR-0.238)
OVR Overseas (2-4-2, NRR-1.168)
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MATCH 17 (ECS21.892)
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST
MATCH 18 (ECS21.893)
SOUTHERN CRUSADERS (SOC) v MATER DEI (MTD)
0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST
SOC Last Five Matches: W L W L W (Avg Score For 77, Avg Score Against 74)
MTD Last Five Matches: L W W NR NR (Avg Score For 87, Avg Score Against 82)
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. Highest wicket taker for SOC picking up EIGHT wickets in six games at an ER of 4.16.
Jojo Thomas, right handed batter and arm finger spinner, top scorer for SOC racking up 65 runs in six games. He has also picked up FOUR wickets including a best return of 3-14 vs OVR on Tuesday.
Zeshan Yousaf, all-rounder, big hitting opener, moves the ball both ways, second highest run scorer and wicket taker for SOC scoring 59 runs and picking up SIX wickets.
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.
Leaders Mater Dei lock horns with Southern Crusaders who have been in decent form winning three of their last five games. MTD have a two-point advantage over other four teams and also possess a superior NRR. A decent win in one of the two games should seal the top spot for MTD.
Match Prediction: Southern Crusaders and Mater Dei to win a game each.
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MATCH 19 (ECS21.894)
MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW) v BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL)
1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST
MATCH 20 (ECS21.895)
MSIDA WARRIORS (MSW) v BUGIBBA BLASTERS (BBL)
1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST
MSW Last Five Matches: L L W NR (Avg Score For 78, Avg Score Against 83)
BBL Last Five Matches: W W L NR NR (Avg Score For 95, Avg Score Against 89)
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.
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, 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, 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.
Placed second at the end of Day 4, Bugibba Blasters will fancy their chances of topping Group A. BBL will need to win big twice against MSW and hope MTD do not win both their games earlier in the day.
Match Prediction: Bugibba Blasters (BBL) to do a double over MSW.