European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 4 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Romania on Thursday 15 July.
BUG enjoyed a day off and will be confident of backing up their opening victory on Tuesday against winless Baneasa. The top two in the standings face off as unbeaten Cluj take on reigning champions ACCB.
Teams
ACCB ACCB (4-2, NRR+2.704)
CLJ Cluj (4-0, NRR+2.635)
UNI United (3-3, NRR+1.008)
BUG Bucharest Gladiators (1-3, NRR-4.225)
BAN Baneasa (0-4, NRR-4.165)
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MATCH 13 (ECS21.544)
BANEASA (BAN) v BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
0600 GMT | 0800 CEST | 1130 IST
MATCH 14 (ECS21.545)
BANEASA (BAN) v BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
0800 GMT | 1000 CEST | 1330 IST
BAN Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 110, Avg Score Against 152)
BUG Last Five Matches: L L L W (Avg Score For 101, Avg Score Against 143)
BANEASA (BAN)
Captain: Abdul Shakoor
Wicketkeeper: Sheriyar Sohail
Projected Top Four: Muhammad Mashal, Sheriyar Sohail, Mahesh Prasanna, Abdul Shakoor
Projected Opening Bowlers: Parminder Mann, Anik Ahmed
Spin Options: Mahesh Prasanna, Wasif Sharif
BANEASA Key Players:
Muhammad Mashal, the youngster impressed on Monday top scoring for BAN with 55 runs from two matches. He was also the only wicket taker on his side.
Parminder Mann, the all-rounder has racked up 78 runs at a healthy strike rate of 150.
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. Has looked in good touch scoring 131 runs in four games.
Sheriyar Sohail, left hand opening batsman and wicket-keeper, loves playing cover drives, hasn’t had much success yet but is capable of turning things around. Has racked up 40 runs so far.
BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG)
Captain: Cosmin Zăvoiu
Wicketkeeper: Imran Haider
Projected Top Four: Moiz Muhammad, Shalitha Prabath, Imran Haider, Patras Masih
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 136 runs in four games at a SR of 247 including an 16-ball 45 against leaders ACCB.
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 has been high, but has picked up FIVE wickets in four games leading the wickets column for his side..
Imran Haider, one of the most senior cricketers in Romania and represented United last term scoring over 50 runs. His previous ECS experience will come in handy for newcomers BUG. Has racked up 47 runs so far including a man of the match award as well.
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 72 runs at a SR of 185 and picked up three wickets as well.
BUG will be refreshed after a day off from the action and will still be basking in the glow of their shock victory over ACCB. Facing a struggling Baneasa side that still seeks a first ever ECS win in two years, BUG should be full of confidence to back up their opening win.
Match Prediction: Baneasa and Bucharest Gladiators to share the spoils, meaning Baneasa bag a precious win.
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MATCH 15 (ECS21.546)
ACCB (ACCB) v CLUJ (CLJ)
1000 GMT | 1200 CEST | 1530 IST
MATCH 16 (ECS21.547)
ACCB (ACCB) v CLUJ (CLJ)
1200 GMT | 1400 CEST | 1730 IST
ACCB Last Five Matches: W W L L W (Avg Score For 138, Avg Score Against 113)
CLJ Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 134, Avg Score Against 114)
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
ACCB Key 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 214 runs in five 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. Third highest run scorer with 176 runs in five innings.
Saeed Ullah had a disappointing last season picking up just two wickets, but has turned things around this time leading the wickets column for ACCB with SEVEN scalps from six 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. Has scalped FIVE 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 second leading wicket taker for ACCB.
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 214 runs in four games at an SR of 273 and picked up FIVE 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 FIVE wickets and scored 21 runs this time around.
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 five balls on Tuesday. Would be looking to play a big knock.
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. Has scored 55 runs in three innings and bagged a man of the match award.
It would certainly be no surprise if these two sides met in the final on Saturday. Cluj have been imperious so far winning four out of four, but reigning champs ACCB have lost two of their last three games. ACCB will look to end the group stages strongly and the onus will be on their go-to-man centurion Gohar Manan.
Last time they met: ACCB 140(9) def CLJ 139 (12 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: ACCB and Cluj to win a game apiece.