European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 4 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Portugal, Cartaxo on Thursday 9 September.
Group leaders Gorkha 11 and Wild Panthers return to the fray playing each other for top spot while Fighters CC and Coimbra Knights remain the only teams with solitary wins and are reeling at the bottom of the table.
Teams
GOR Gorkha 11 (2-0, NRR+2.285)
WLP Wild Panthers (2-0, NRR+0.642)
MAL Malo (2-2, NRR+0.557)
FRD Friendship CC (2-2, NRR+0.305)
OEI Oeiras (2-2, NRR-0.089)
FIG Fighters CC (1-3, NRR-0.966)
CK Coimbra Knights (1-3, NRR-1.223)
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MATCH 13 (ECS21.736)
GORKHA 11 (GOR) v WILD PANTHERS (WLP)
0830 GMT | 1030 CET | 1400 IST
GOR Last Five Matches: W W L W W (Avg Score For 99, Avg Score Against 86)
WLP Last Five Matches: W W (Avg Score For 108, Avg Score Against 102)
GORKHA 11 (GOR)
Captain: Madhukar Thapa
Wicketkeeper: Suman Ghimire
Projected Top Four: Suman Ghimire, Imran Khan, Rahul Hudda, Amandeep Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Imran Khan, Rahul Bhardwaj
Spin Options: Manjit Singh, Saddam Akbory
GORKHA 11 Key Players:
Imran Khan, hard-hitting Portuguese international, has racked up 289 runs in all ECN games, economical with the ball picking up 14 wickets. Mustered 68 runs in two games on Monday including an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls vs Malo. Also, picked up a couple of wickets.
Suman Ghimire, solid wicket keeper batsman, top scorer at FanCode Portugal T10 2021 mustering 268 runs in 13 innings. Top scored for GOR on Monday racking up 74 runs in two games including a man of the match performance of 69* off 35 balls vs Malo.
Rahul Bhardwaj, experienced right arm medium pacer, has scalped 21 wickets in all ECN matches at an ER of 6.1 with a best return of 3-8. Picked up THREE wickets in two games on Monday.
Madhukar Thapa, captain, third highest wicket taker for GOR at FanCode Portugal T10 2021 scalping 12 wickets. Scalped THREE wickets on Monday at an ER of just 5.75.
Arslan Naeem, the 21-year old medium pacer bowls with good control and has enough pace to trouble batsmen. Top wicket taker for GOR so far picking up FIVE wickets in two games on Monday including a best return of 3-10.
WILD PANTHERS (WLP)
Captain: Akshar Patel
Wicketkeeper: Kishan Suthar
Projected Top Four: Azhar Andani, Waqar Nasir, Md Siraj Nipo, Kishan Suthar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mitul Patel, Parth Patel
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Akshar Patel, Dharm Patel, Hardik Patel
WILD PANTHERS Key Players:
Azhar Andani, big hitting opening batsman, racked up 341 runs with two fifty plus scores in 21 ECN matches. The all-rounder started off the season in style bagging two MOM awards in two games on Tuesday. Top scorer for WLP mustering 81 runs in two games and has picked up a couple of wickets as well.
Md Siraj Nipo, classy left handed batsman with 244 runs in 21 ECN matches. Bowls tight left arm off spin, hard to get away. Leading GOR wicket taker at ECN with 31 victims and best figures of 3-3. Didn’t look at his best but managed to pick up a wicket on Tuesday.
Mitul Patel, opening bowler, shows good control with the ball and can swing the new ball both ways. Top wicket taker for WLP on Tuesday scalping THREE victims in two games.
Waqar Nasir, right hand opening batsman, looked in fine form on Tuesday racking up 55 runs in two games.
Kishan Suthar, talented wicket keeper batsman, can open the batting as well as play in the middle order and provide finishing touches to the WLP innings.
The top two sides, Gorkha 11 and Wild Panthers, remain the only unbeaten sides in the competition. Table toppers GOR will be keen to hold onto their Numero Uno position, while debutants WLP will be looking to dethrone their rivals. With WLP having a couple of ex-GOR star players in their ranks, this game promises to be a humdinger.
Match Prediction: Gorkha 11 (GOR) to edge a narrow win.
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MATCH 14 (ECS21.737)
GORKHA 11 (GOR) v FIGHTERS CC (FIG)
0830 GMT | 1230 CET | 1600 IST
GOR Last Five Matches: W W L W W (Avg Score For 99, Avg Score Against 86)
FIG Last Five Matches: L W L L (Avg Score For 106, Avg Score Against 116)
GORKHA 11 (GOR)
Captain: Madhukar Thapa
Wicketkeeper: Suman Ghimire
Projected Top Four: Suman Ghimire, Imran Khan, Rahul Hudda, Amandeep Ghumman
Projected Opening Bowlers: Imran Khan, Rahul Bhardwaj
Spin Options: Manjit Singh, Saddam Akbory
GORKHA 11 Key Players:
Imran Khan, hard-hitting Portuguese international, has racked up 289 runs in all ECN games, economical with the ball picking up 14 wickets. Mustered 68 runs in two games on Monday including an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls vs Malo. Also, picked up a couple of wickets.
Suman Ghimire, solid wicket keeper batsman, top scorer at FanCode Portugal T10 2021 mustering 268 runs in 13 innings. Top scored for GOR on Monday racking up 74 runs in two games including a man of the match performance of 69* off 35 balls vs Malo.
Rahul Bhardwaj, experienced right arm medium pacer, has scalped 21 wickets in all ECN matches at an ER of 6.1 with a best return of 3-8. Picked up THREE wickets in two games on Monday.
Madhukar Thapa, captain, third highest wicket taker for GOR at FanCode Portugal T10 2021 scalping 12 wickets. Scalped THREE wickets on Monday at an ER of just 5.75.
Arslan Naeem, the 21-year old medium pacer bowls with good control and has enough pace to trouble batsmen. Top wicket taker for GOR so far picking up FIVE wickets in two games on Monday including a best return of 3-10.
FIGHTERS CC (FIG)
Captain: Mandeep Singh
Wicketkeeper: Gurlal Singh
Projected Top Four: Gagandeep Singh, Balwinder Singh, Rana Sarwar, Mandeep Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rana Sarwar, Mandeep Singh
Spin Options: Ravi Ravi
FIGHTERS CC Key Players:
Imran Rao, hard hitting right hander, top scorer for FIG mustering 91 runs in four games at a strike rate of 217.
Deepu Mansurpuria, vice captain of FIG, hard-hitting batsman, capable of hitting big sixes. Will provide much needed impetus in the middle order. Scored 47 runs and picked up three wickets in four games.
Balwinder Singh, technically sound batsman and a decent medium pacer. Boasts previous ECS experience playing for Austrian Cricket Tigers and Salzburg. Second highest scorer for FIG racking up 78 runs and joint leading wicket taker for FIG picking up three wickets.
Varinder Virk, right arm pacer, returned man of the match figures of 2-9 against CK on Tuesday helping his team to a first ever ECS victory. Joint highest wicket taker for FIG scalping three wickets.
Gagandeep Singh, right handed aggressive opening batsman, has scored 55 runs in three innings.
GOR will be strong favourites against newcomers Fighters in their debut campaign. Pretty impressive so far, FIG have failed to hold their nerve in crunch situations and lost two close games.
Match Prediction: Gorkha 11 (GOR) to win a thrilling encounter.
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MATCH 15 (ECS21.738)
WILD PANTHERS (WLP) v COIMBRA KNIGHTS (CK)
1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
WLP Last Five Matches: W W (Avg Score For 108, Avg Score Against 102)
CK Last Five Matches: NR W L L L (Avg Score For 88, Avg Score Against 100)
WILD PANTHERS (WLP)
Captain: Akshar Patel
Wicketkeeper: Kishan Suthar
Projected Top Four: Azhar Andani, Waqar Nasir, Md Siraj Nipo, Kishan Suthar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mitul Patel, Parth Patel
Spin Options: Md Siraj Nipo, Akshar Patel, Dharm Patel, Hardik Patel
WILD PANTHERS Key Players:
Azhar Andani, big hitting opening batsman, racked up 341 runs with two fifty plus scores in 21 ECN matches. The all-rounder started off the season in style bagging two MOM awards in two games on Tuesday. Top scorer for WLP mustering 81 runs in two games and has picked up a couple of wickets as well.
Md Siraj Nipo, classy left handed batsman with 244 runs in 21 ECN matches. Bowls tight left arm off spin, hard to get away. Leading GOR wicket taker at ECN with 31 victims and best figures of 3-3. Didn’t look at his best but managed to pick up a wicket on Tuesday.
Mitul Patel, opening bowler, shows good control with the ball and can swing the new ball both ways. Top wicket taker for WLP on Tuesday scalping THREE victims in two games.
Waqar Nasir, right hand opening batsman, looked in fine form on Tuesday racking up 55 runs in two games.
Kishan Suthar, talented wicket keeper batsman, can open the batting as well as play in the middle order and provide finishing touches to the WLP innings.
COIMBRA KNIGHTS (CK)
Captain: Chris Redhead
Wicketkeeper: MD Zaman
Projected Top Four: Andrew Winter, Junaid Khan, Vikas Kumar, Miguel Stoman
Projected Opening Bowlers: Junaid Khan, Andrew Winter
Spin Options: Mubeen Tariq, Amit Kumar
COIMBRA KNIGHTS Key Players:
Andrew Winter, experienced all-rounder, played for Amigos CC in ECS Cartaxo September 2020, racking up 90 runs in four innings and picking up 5 wickets. Joint top wicket taker for CK picking up SIX wickets and has scored 55 runs.
Junaid Khan, star all-rounder, very good with the bat and equally sharp with the ball, racked up 267 runs in 17 ECN innings and has picked up 10 wickets. Picked up FIVE wickets and top scorer for CK racking up 71 runs in four games.
Mubeen Tariq, right arm slow bowler, joint leading wicket taker in the tournament so far picking up SIX wickets in four games including a man of the match return of 3-14. Is a handy batsman as well.
Vikas Kumar, decent right handed batsman, second highest scorer for CK racking up 69 runs in four games.
Coimbra Knights started off with a win but have lost their next three games and find themselves reeling at the bottom of the table. Wild Panthers have looked the best of all three newcomers and will be strong favourites to win this contest.
Match Prediction: Wild Panthers (WLP) to win with plenty to spare.
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MATCH 16 (ECS21.739)
FRIENDSHIP CC (FRD) v FIGHTERS CC (FIG)
1430 GMT | 1630 CET | 2000 IST
FRD Last Five Matches: W W L L (Avg Score For 103, Avg Score Against 100)
FIG Last Five Matches: L W L L (Avg Score For 106, Avg Score Against 116)
FRIENDSHIP CC (FRD)
Captain: Imtiaz Rana
Wicketkeeper: Mizu Rahman
Projected Top Four: Mizu Rahman, Mohammad Asad, Md Nazrul Islam, Imtiaz Rana
Projected Opening Bowlers: Mohammad Asad, Nazmul Hasan
Spin Options: Md Abdul Motin
FRIENDSHIP CC Key Players:
Md Nazrul Islam, a talented top order batsman with the ability to bowl at any slot with a tight line and length. He could be a game changer. Second highest scorer in the tournament so far mustering 140 runs in four games at a SR of 212 including two fifties and a deserved man of the match award. Has also picked up two wickets.
Mohammad Asad, Right-hand top-order batsmen and medium fast bowler, he’s also the coach of FRD and can open the innings with both bat and ball. Scored 89 runs in four games and has picked up THREE wickets.
Nazmul Hasan, right-arm pace bowler, bowls fast, has great skills, capable of destroying any top order, can bowl good slower balls too. Picked up a couple of wickets on Monday.
Md Abdul Motin, right arm off-spinner, returned man of the match with tournament best figures of 4-15 vs reigning champs Malo.
FIGHTERS CC (FIG)
Captain: Mandeep Singh
Wicketkeeper: Gurlal Singh
Projected Top Four: Gagandeep Singh, Balwinder Singh, Rana Sarwar, Mandeep Singh
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rana Sarwar, Mandeep Singh
Spin Options: Ravi Ravi
FIGHTERS CC Key Players:
Imran Rao, hard hitting right hander, top scorer for FIG mustering 91 runs in four games at a strike rate of 217.
Deepu Mansurpuria, vice captain of FIG, hard-hitting batsman, capable of hitting big sixes. Will provide much needed impetus in the middle order. Scored 47 runs and picked up three wickets in four games.
Balwinder Singh, technically sound batsman and a decent medium pacer. Boasts previous ECS experience playing for Austrian Cricket Tigers and Salzburg. Second highest scorer for FIG racking up 78 runs and joint leading wicket taker for FIG picking up three wickets.
Varinder Virk, right arm pacer, returned man of the match figures of 2-9 against CK on Tuesday helping his team to a first ever ECS victory. Joint highest wicket taker for FIG scalping three wickets.
Gagandeep Singh, right handed aggressive opening batsman, has scored 55 runs in three innings.
The much anticipated Friendship vs Fighters game will cap off Day 4. FRD showed a lot of promise on the opening day winning both their matches but slipped to two losses the next day.
Match Prediction: Friendship CC (FRD) to get back to winning ways.