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 3 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Romania on Wednesday 14 July.
Cluj started off their campaign with two good wins against United and will be expecting two more big wins against a struggling Baneasa side, who are yet to win an ECS game across two seasons. Last year’s finalists, ACCB and United, lock horns in the second double header which could prove to be a blockbuster.
Teams
ACCB ACCB (3-1, NRR+4.208)
CLJ Cluj (2-0, NRR+2.550)
UNI United (2-2, NRR+1.500)
BUG Bucharest Gladiators (1-2, NRR-4.225)
BAN Baneasa (0-2, NRR-5.682)
__________________
MATCH 9 (ECS21.540)
CLUJ (CLJ) v BANEASA (BAN)
0600 GMT | 0800 CEST | 1130 IST
MATCH 10 (ECS21.541)
CLUJ (CLJ) v BANEASA (BAN)
0800 GMT | 1000 CEST | 1330 IST
CLJ Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 132, Avg Score Against 124)
BAN Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 105, Avg Score Against 133)
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. Mustered 50 runs in two games at an SR of 238 and picked up three wickets as well.
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. Scalped three wickets and scored 20 runs.
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. Played a nice little cameo of 14 off 5 balls. Would be looking to play a big knock on Wednesday.
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. Top scorer for Cluj on Tuesday with 55 runs in two matches.
BANEASA (BAN)
Captain: Abdul Shakoor
Wicketkeeper: Sheriyar Sohail
Projected Top Four: Sheriyar Sohail, Abdul Shakoor, Anik Ahmed, Parminder Mann
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zafar Ullah, Waqar Abbasi
Spin Options: Mahesh Prasanna, Wasif Sharif
BANEASA Key Players:
Sheriyar Sohail, left hand opening batsman and wicket-keeper, making his ECS debut, would be eager to perform on the grand stage of European Cricket. He loves playing cover drives.
Waqar Abbasi, right hand fast bowler and lower order batsman, capable of hitting long balls, finished top scorer for BAN with 60 runs and scalped two wickets in three games last year.
Abdul Shakoor, right handed middle order batsman, second highest run scorer for BAN last term racking up 56 runs in three games at a good strike rate of 193. Vice captain of the national side. Looked in good touch scoring an unbeaten 49 on Monday.
Cluj were mightily impressive in their opening games against previously unbeaten United and will be strong favourites to beat winless Baneasa who are yet to taste victory, including last season.
Last time they met: CLJ 94(9.2) def BAN 91 (12 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: Cluj (CLJ) to win two entertaining affairs.
__________________
MATCH 11 (ECS21.542)
ACCB (ACCB) v UNITED (UNI)
1000 GMT | 1200 CEST | 1530 IST
MATCH 12 (ECS21.543)
ACCB (ACCB) v UNITED (UNI)
1200 GMT | 1400 CEST | 1730 IST
ACCB Last Five Matches: W W W W L (Avg Score For 150, Avg Score Against 113)
UNI Last Five Matches: L W W L L (Avg Score For 117, Avg Score Against 110)
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 also held the record for quickest ECS century. He can boast an international hundred in T20Is and is a key member of the national side. Started off this campaign with a magnificent 112* off 37 balls. Top scorer with 196 runs in four matches.
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 on Monday. Second highest run scorer with 141 runs in three innings.
Sami Ullah, right arm medium pacer, national team member, scalped SEVEN wickets in four games last summer with a best return of 3-23. Has scalped three wickets so far.
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 FIVE wickets already this term and is leading the wicket taking charts for ACCB.
UNITED (UNI)
Captain: Ramesh Satheesan
Wicketkeeper: Stan Ahuja
Projected Top Four: Ramesh Satheesan, Rohit Kumar, Stan Ahuja, Raj Kumar
Projected Opening Bowlers: Aftab Kayani, 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. Top run scorer and wicket taker for UNI with 124 runs and SIX wickets in four games.
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. Scored a good looking 39* in the first game on Tuesday.
Raj Kumar, one of the 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. Second most run scorer for UNI hammering 67 runs in four games and has scalped FOUR victims.
Reigning champions and runners up from last year’s edition square off. United will look to avenge that painful defeat in the Final last season and also bounce back from a couple of heavy losses to Cluj on Tuesday. ACCB will also look to recover from their first defeat on the last ball of a cliffhanger to BUG.
Last time they met: ACCB 134 def UNI 108 (13 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: ACCB and United to share the spoils with a win a piece.
