FINAL - MATCH 24 (ECS21.555) CLUJ (CLJ) v ACCB (ACCB) 1400 GMT | 1600 CET | 1930 IST
CLJ Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 154, Avg Score Against 124)
ACCB Last Five Matches: W W L L W (Avg Score For 132, Avg Score Against 151)
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, has mustered 421 runs in nine games at a SR of 268 and picked up 11 wickets as well. Scored 99 off just 27 balls vs ACCB. Has smashed 49 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 SEVEN wickets and scored 124 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 170 runs in six innings at an SR of 223.
Gaurav Mishra, the medium pacer has picked up SEVEN wickets so far opening the bowling for his side. He has been bowling in good channels and will play a crucial role for CLJ in the knockouts on Saturday. Mustered an unbeaten 30 off 11 balls on Friday to take his side home against BUG in a thrilling last ball finish.
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. He has scored 164 runs in six innings and bagged a man of the match award.
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. Highest run scorer for ACCB with 323 runs in nine 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 for ACCB with 307 runs in eight innings including FOUR fifty plus scores. Has also picked up 10 wickets.
Anandha Karthikeyan, the right hander has played a vital role in the ACCB lineup steadying the ship and making sure wickets don’t tumble at both ends. He has racked up 159 runs in eight 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 10 scalps from 10 games. Smashed the last ball for six to secure a precious spot in the final.
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 SEVEN 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 - the least among his teammates. Scalped EIGHT wickets already this term.
These two teams finished top of the standings, sharing a win a piece in the group stages. As we saw in the qualifier earlier in the day, much will depend on their respective destructive top orders, boasting great talents such as Gohar Mahan and Taranjeet Singh, absolute run machines for their teams. Cluj won the earlier game when the two teams shared a host of new ECS records, but reigning champions ACCB will be buoyed by their dramatic last ball win over United in the second qualifier when Saeed Ullah smashed the last ball for six to secure a final spot.
Last time they met: ECS21.553 | CLJ 159(8.2) def ACCB 158 (17 Jul 2020)
Match Prediction: Cluj (CLJ) to win comfortably.
Tune into the live action from Romania from Monday to Saturday from 0600 GMT * 0800 CEST * 1130 IST *
