MATCH 5 (ECS21.536) CLUJ (CLJ) v UNITED (UNI) 0600 GMT | 0800 CEST | 1130 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)
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.
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 to rack up a third straight win.
Tune into the live action from Romania from Monday to Saturday from 0600 GMT * 0800 CEST * 1130 IST *
