FanCode ECS Romania provides an opportunity for five teams to showcase their skills, contesting 24 games over six days. Every game will be live streamed worldwide on the European Cricket Network and on FanCode - a multi-sport aggregator platform, from the house of Dream Sports for the Indian Sub-Continent.
European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 2 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Romania on Tuesday 13 July.
Romania’s ECL19 representatives Cluj enter the fray after a journey of almost six hours to the Romanian capital and face a tough introduction against unbeaten United. Bucharest Gladiators (and Pavel Florin) will look to get off the mark against reigning champions ACCB.
Teams
ACCB ACCB (ACCB) (2-0, NRR+5.682)
UNI United (UNI) (2-0, NRR+5.550)
CLJ Cluj (CLJ) (0-0, NRR+0.000)
BUG Bucharest Gladiators (BUG) (0-2, NRR-5.50)
BAN Baneasa (0-2, NRR-5.682)
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MATCH 5 (ECS21.536)
CLUJ (CLJ) v UNITED (UNI)
0600 GMT | 0800 CEST | 1130 IST
MATCH 6 (ECS21.537)
CLUJ (CLJ) v UNITED (UNI)
0800 GMT | 1000 CEST | 1330 IST
CLJ Last Five Matches: W L W L (Avg Score For 127, Avg Score Against 127)
UNI Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 129, Avg Score Against 114)
CLUJ (CLJ)
Captain: Arun Kumar
Wicketkeeper: Satwik Nadigotla
Projected Top Four: Taranjeet Singh, Satwik Nadigotla, Sivakumar Periyalwar, Vasu Saini
Projected Opening Bowlers: Gaurav Mishra, Nishant Devre
Spin Options: Sukhkaran Sahi, Taranjeet Singh
CLUJ Key Players:
Taranjeet Singh, all-time leading run scorer for CLJ, plundered 181 runs at a strike rate of 307 last term. He mustered 22 sixes - the second most in the tournament. Led the wickets column for CLJ with SIX wickets.
Vasu Saini, current member of the national team, racked up 105 runs in four innings last term at an average of 105 and strike rate of 178. The all-rounder also scalped FIVE wickets.
Sivakumar Periyalwar, another current member of the national team, endured an ordinary campaign last season scoring 62 runs in four matches. The right-hander will be looking to turn things around this time.
Satwik Nadigotla, the wicket-keeper batsman is making his ECS debut for Cluj, also part of the national squad and featured at ECL19 scoring 43 runs.
UNITED (UNI)
Captain: Ramesh Satheesan
Wicketkeeper: Stan Ahuja
Projected Top Four: Ramesh Satheesan, Rohit Kumar, Shantanu Vashisht, Stan Ahuja
Projected Opening Bowlers: Shantanu Vashisht, Raj Kumar
Spin Options: Syed Ali Zain, Ali Hussain, Ramesh Satheesan
UNITED Key Players:
Ramesh Satheesan, the hard hitting opening batsman mustered 158 runs at a SR of 208 last summer and picked up SIX wickets. He recently broke Yuvraj Singh’s T20 International record of highest strike rate in an innings for a 50+ score. Mustered an unbeaten 88 in the opening game. Returned 5-3 in the second game bagging back-to-back MoMs on Monday.
Stan Ahuja , recent winning experience for Royal Tigers in Hungary. Safe pair of hands behind the stumps and contributes valuable runs. Scored 236 runs in ECS Hungary recently, is an excellent finisher with the bat, big leg side hitter with stylish flicks, sweeps and midwicket slogs.
Raj Kumar, one of top five bowlers in Romania. A genuine wicket taker, who can swing the new ball both ways and is excellent in the death overs with yorkers and slower balls. Scored 97 runs in four innings last summer and picked up FIVE wickets as well. Hammered 45 runs in two games at a strike rate of 300 on Monday.
Aftab Kayani has been bowling well recently which got him a place in the national side, is in good wicket taking form, reliable death over bowler. He is committed in the field and has taken some excellent catches of late.
Shantanu Vashisht, one of the best bowlers in Romania. Generally economical, doesn’t always get a flurry of wickets, but often gets the best bats out. He will bat in the top four, is good at rotating strike and is an excellent fielder. Scored 74 runs and picked up a couple of wickets last term. Scored 44 runs and picked up two wickets on Monday.
Two evenly matched teams meet in the first double header on Tuesday. United will have the advantage in the opening game having made a winning start on Monday against BUG. The two teams have played twice before, sharing a win apiece.
Last time they met: UNI 139 def CLJ 130 (13 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: United could win both, but Cluj’s best chance of victory will come in the second match of the double-header after getting used to the pitch and conditions.
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MATCH 7 (ECS21.538)
ACCB (ACCB) v BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
1000 GMT | 1200 CEST | 1530 IST
MATCH 8 (ECS21.539)
ACCB (ACCB) v BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
1200 GMT | 1400 CEST | 1730 IST
ACCB Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 150, Avg Score Against 113)
BUG Last Five Matches: L L (Avg Score For 82, Avg Score Against 138)
ACCB (ACCB)
Captain: Sukhbinder Singh
Wicketkeeper: Asad Abbas
Projected Top Four: Gohar Manan, Anandha Karthikeyan, Abdul Asif, Asad Abbas
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sami Ullah, Sukhbinder Singh
Spin Options: Sukhbinder Singh
ACCBKey Players:
Gohar Manan, top scorer in the previous edition mustering 251 runs at a strike rate of 278! The opener also scored a brilliant 110* off just 35 balls vs CLJ. Until recently he held the record for quickest ECS century. He can also boast an international hundred in T20Is and is a key member of the national side. Started off the campaign with a magnificent 112* off 37 balls.
Abdul Asif, second highest run scorer for ACCB last term with 82 runs from four innings. Opened 2021 in style with a blistering 19-ball 79* and also picked up FOUR wickets in two games.
Sami Ullah, right arm medium pacer, national team member, scalped SEVEN wickets in four games last summer with a best return of 3-23. Returned with two wickets on Monday in two games.
Sukhbinder Singh, captain, right arm off-spinner, impressed last term picking up FIVE wickets in four games at an ER of 9.71 - least among his teammates. Scalped two wickets on Monday at an economy of just six.
BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
Captain: Cosmin Zăvoiu
Wicketkeeper: Imran Haider
Projected Top Four: Moiz Muhammad, Shalitha Prabath, Shajeel Muhammad, Imran Haider
Projected Opening Bowlers: Moiz Muhammad, Patras Masih
Spin Options: Pavel Florin, Cosmin Zăvoiu, Esanka Rumesh Priyadharshana, Regan Francis
BUCHAREST GLADIATORS Key Players:
Moiz Muhammad, played for United last term, he is one of the most electrifying opening batsman in Romania, was top scorer for UNI hammering 170 runs at a staggering strike rate of 274! The big hitting opener will be key for debutants BUG. Mustered 57 runs in two games at an SR of 248 including an 18-ball 44 against his former club United.
Pavel Florin, the Romanian superstar has the third best strike rate in international cricket for bowlers with at least 10 wickets, picking up 13 wickets in 19.3 overs. He was also the leading wicket taker for Romania in the recently concluded Sofia Twenty20 picking up seven wickets. His economy rate was rather high on Monday, but he did pick up FOUR wickets in two games.
Imran Haider, one of the most senior cricketers in Romania with a brilliant cricketing mind,represented United last term scoring over 50 runs. His previous ECS experience will come in handy for newcomers BUG.
Patras Masih, a classy right handed middle order batsman, loves playing through the covers, is a fine pacer with a natural ability to swing the ball. Scored 36 runs at an SR of 200 and picked up a wicket as well.
Cosmin Zăvoiu, captain and current national team member, played for United last term and will be looking to bring his experience into play for his new club where he is also the President. He is a decent batsman and holds the second best strike rate in an innings in international cricket when he picked up three wickets in an over against Turkey.
Reigning champions ACCB looked mightily impressive on the opening day and have some serious firepower in their ranks again. BUG could not cope with United on Monday and look set for a similar struggle here.
Match Prediction: ACCB (ACCB) to win both contests comfortably.
