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 5 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Romania on Friday 16 July.
The last day of the group stages looms with all to play for in Romania with Bucharest Gladiators and Baneasa battling it out for the final knockout spot, while the top trio are already safely through to the knockouts.
Teams
CLJ Cluj (5-1, NRR+3.078)
ACCB ACCB (5-3, NRR+0.994)
UNI United (3-3, NRR+1.008)
BUG Bucharest Gladiators (2-4, NRR-3.000)
BAN Baneasa (1-5, NRR-2.455)
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MATCH 17 (ECS21.548)
UNITED (UNI) v BANEASA (BAN)
0600 GMT | 0800 CET | 1130 IST
MATCH 18 (ECS21.549)
UNITED (UNI) v BANEASA (BAN)
0800 GMT | 1000 CET | 1330 IST
UNI Last Five Matches: W L L W L (Avg Score For 115, Avg Score Against 115)
BAN Last Five Matches: L L L W L (Avg Score For 102, Avg Score Against 125)
UNITED (UNI)
Captain: Ramesh Satheesan
Wicketkeeper: Stan Ahuja
Projected Top Four: Ramesh Satheesan, Rohit Kumar, Stan Ahuja, Ali Hussain
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 150 runs and EIGHT wickets in six games.
Rohit Kumar is the second highest run scorer for UNI racking up 140 runs. The left hander has mustered 11 sixes - most by any UNI batsman this term.
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. Has racked up 69 runs including a good looking 39* in the first game on Tuesday.
Ali Hussain, recent addition to UNI, young and energetic bowling allrounder, bowls left arm orthodox spin, has impressed so far with SIX wickets from four games with a best return of 4-21. Has also mustered 66 runs at an SR of 200!
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:
Ijaz Hussain, captain and all-rounder who is also a member of the current national side. He has picked up eight T20I wickets and scored 84 runs. Had an average season at ECS Romania last year scoring 53 runs in three matches and picking up a couple of wickets. Hasn’t featured so far and will be looking to make a big impact on his season debut.
Muhammad Mashal, the youngster has impressed with his hard hitting ability mustering 90 runs from four matches at a strike rate of 220. Has also picked up two wickets.
Parminder Mann, the all-rounder has racked up 97 runs at a healthy strike rate of 145.
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 top scoring for his side with 156 runs in six games.
Sheriyar Sohail, left hand opening batsman and wicket-keeper, loves playing cover drives. Hasn’t enjoyed much success yet with 50 runs so far, but is capable of turning things around.
After seven consecutive ECS losses, Baneasa managed to open their winning account against BUG on Thursday. But BAN will need to beat United at least once to have a sniff of securing a spot in the knockout stages. United will be refreshed after a day off on Thursday as well and will look to finish the group stages strongly.
Last time they met: UNI 130 def BAN 119 (12 Sep 2020)
Match Prediction: United (UNI) should win both, but Baneasa might sneak a win if the United top order do not deliver.
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MATCH 19 (ECS21.550)
BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG) v CLUJ (CLJ)
1000 GMT | 1200 CET | 1530 IST
MATCH 20 (ECS21.551)
BUCHAREST GLADIATORS (BUG) v CLUJ (CLJ)
1200 GMT | 1400 CET | 1730 IST
BUG Last Five Matches: L L W L W (Avg Score For 101, Avg Score Against 124)
CLJ Last Five Matches: W W W L W (Avg Score For 144, Avg Score Against 112)
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 194 runs in SIX games at a SR of 243 including an 16-ball 45 against leaders ACCB. Has picked up four wickets as well.
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 not been frugal, but he has picked up SEVEN wickets in six games, leading the wickets column for his side.
Manmeet Koli, the all-rounder has picked up FIVE wickets and is the second highest scorer for BUG mustering 79 runs.
Mihai Achim, the youngster has been mightily impressive with the ball picking up FIVE wickets with a best return of 2-5 against BAN.
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 73 runs at a SR of 178 and picked up three wickets as well.
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 315 runs in six games at an SR of 297 and picked up FIVE wickets as well. Scored 99 off just 27 balls vs ACCB in the last game. Has smashed 39 sixes - the most in the tournament.
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 SIX wickets and scored 49 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 has plundered 102 runs in four innings at an SR of 262.
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 112 runs in five innings and bagged a man of the match award.
Depending on Baneasa’s fortunes, BUG may already have secured qualification for Finals Day. However, if Baneasa bag a victory earlier in the day, BUG may need some points against table-topping Cluj. Another interesting side story, Romania star Pavel Florin pits his wits against his former club where he rose to worldwide fame at ECL19.
Match Prediction: Cluj (CLJ) to win both at a canter and top the standings.
