Day 13 PREVIEW: FanCode ECS Spain Barcelona - Matches 61-65

European Cricket Network live broadcasts five T10 matches on Day 13 of the FanCode ECS Spain, Barcelona on Wednesday 24 February.

After a complete Group B washout on Monday, Hira Sabadell find themselves in a tricky situation with all their remaining matches being virtual knockout scenarios. Second placed Barna Royals battle the might of Pak I Care again after Monday’s meeting was rained off.

Group B

PIC  Pak I Care (4-0, NRR+4.609)

BAR  Barna Royals (2-1, NRR+0.221)

RIW  Ripoll Warriors (2-2, NRR-1.001)

CLI  City Lions (1-2, NRR-1.116)

PAK  Pakcelona (1-3, NRR-1.791)

HIS  Hira Sabadell (0-2, NRR-1.850)

MATCH 61  (ECS21.061)

PAK I CARE (PIC) v PAKCELONA (PAK)

0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST

PIC Last Five Matches: W W W W NR (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 86) 

PAK Last Five Matches: L L L W NR (Avg Score For 96, Avg Score Against 112) 

PAK I CARE (PIC)

Captain: Muhammad Babar

Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Ihsan

Projected Top Four: Muhammad Ihsan, Muhammad Yasin, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Asim Butt

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Jafri

Spin Options: Sikandar Ali

PAK I CARE Key Players:

Muhammad Ihsan has plundered 188 runs, including 20 HUGE maximos, averaging 94 with a strike rate of 235.

Muhammad Kamran, tall left arm pacer, likes intimidating batsmen with short balls, has grabbed three wickets and can score quick runs with the bat.

Muhammad Jafri, reliable bowler with a deceptive change of pace, has snared eight wickets in four games, conceding just 45 runs from 8 overs.

PAKCELONA (PAK)

Captain: Raja Khaliq

Wicketkeeper: Shahid Iqbal

Projected Top Four: Ishtiaq Nazir, Shahzad Khan, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Amir Raza

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Amir Raza, Raja Khaliq

Spin Options: Raja Khaliq

PAKCELONA Key Players:

Shahzad Khan, hard hitting batsman, mustered 96 runs with almost 80 percent of his runs coming in boundaries. Also has three wickets to his name.

Muhammad Amir Raza, all rounder, scored 84 runs in four matches and picked up three wickets at a miserly economy rate of 5.57.

Ishtiaq Nazir, leading run-getter for his side at ECS Barcelona 2020 with 160 runs. Hasn't fired yet, but highly capable of demolishing any bowling attack.

With the pride of Pakistan and local bragging rights up for grabs, it’s hard to see past a Pak I Care victory, but Pakcelona are sure to battle fiercely against their heavyweight local rivals.

Last time they met: ECS21.006 | PIC 142 def PAK 86 (9 Feb 2021)

Match Prediction: PAK I CARE (PIC) to continue their dominance over rivals Pakcelona with captain Muhammad Babar back to lead his troops.

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MATCH 62(ECS21.062)

BARNA ROYALS (BAR) v PAK I CARE (PIC)

0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST

BAR Last Five Matches: W L W NR (Avg Score For 105, Avg Score Against 103) 

PIC Last Five Matches: W W W W NR (Avg Score For 130, Avg Score Against 86) 

BARNA ROYALS (BAR)

Captain: Nabeel Qaiser

Wicketkeeper: Taqqi Ul Mazhar

Projected Top Four: Syed Shafat Ali, Hamza Azhar, Taqqi Ul Mazhar, Sharjeel Qaiser

Projected Opening Bowlers: Syed Shafat Ali, Murad Ali

Spin Options: Usama Shahzad

BARNA ROYALS Key Players:

Hamza Azhar, all rounder, racked up 76 runs from three games and scalped two wickets.

Usama Shahzad, the talented LHB looked solid in his only appearance vs PAK with a 15-ball 35. He can roll his arm over and can even keep wicket, if required.

Shafat Ali Syed, missed the first couple of games but returned with a bang, scoring a blistering 32 at an SR of 267 and picking up a wicket in the powerplay.

PAK I CARE (PIC)

Captain: Shehroz Ahmed

Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Ihsan

Projected Top Four: Muhammad Ihsan, Muhammad Yasin, Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Asim Butt

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Kamran, Muhammad Jafri

Spin Options: Sikandar Ali

PAK I CARE Key Players:

Muhammad Ihsan has plundered 188 runs, including 20 HUGE maximos, averaging 94 with a strike rate of 235.

Muhammad Kamran, tall left arm pacer, likes intimidating batsmen with short balls, has grabbed three wickets and can score quick runs with the bat.

Muhammad Jafri, reliable bowler with a deceptive change of pace, has snared eight wickets in four games, conceding just 45 runs from 8 overs.

Thwarted by the rain on Monday from a potential humdinger, Barna Royals face the leaders Pak I Care again in the hope of causing an upset and staying in touching distance of Finals day.

Last time they met: ECS21.055 | Match Abandoned (22 Feb 2021)

Match Prediction: PAK I CARE (PIC) to extend their lead over second placed Barna Royals.

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MATCH 63(ECS21.063)

PAKCELONA (PAK) v RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW)

1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST

PAK Last Five Matches: L L L W NR (Avg Score For 96, Avg Score Against 112) 

RIW Last Five Matches: W W L L NR (Avg Score For 93, Avg Score Against 102) 

PAKCELONA (PAK)

Captain: Raja Khaliq

Wicketkeeper: Shahid Iqbal

Projected Top Four: Ishtiaq Nazir, Shahzad Khan, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Amir Raza

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Amir Raza, Raja Khaliq

Spin Options: Raja Khaliq

PAKCELONA Key Players:

Shahzad Khan, hard hitting batsman, mustered 96 runs with almost 80 percent of his runs coming in boundaries. Also has three wickets to his name.

Muhammad Amir Raza, all rounder, scored 84 runs in four matches and picked up three wickets at a miserly economy rate of 5.57.

Ishtiaq Nazir, leading run-getter for his side at ECS Barcelona 2020 with 160 runs. Hasn't fired yet, but highly capable of demolishing any bowling attack.

RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW)

Captain: Waqar Iqbal

Wicketkeeper: Waqar Iqbal

Projected Top Four: Prince Dhiman, Mohsin Ali, Aamir Shahzad, Waqar Iqbal

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Nazim, Aqtadar Iqbal

Spin Options: Ehsan Elahi, Jagbeer Singh

RIPOLL WARRIORS Key Players:

Mohsin Ali, top run scorer (99) for RIW, launching 12 towering sixes at a strike rate of 220. 

Prince Dhiman, stylish RHB, right arm fast, has three wickets and 74 runs including a match-winning unbeaten 58 against Pakcelona.

Aamir Shahzad, very consistent with the ball, picking up six wickets from four games and has made it to the Dream Team in each of those four games!

Ripoll Warriors won the previous meeting a couple of weeks ago in a successful start to the tournament. RIW have regressed a little since and Pakcelona are not without a chance here.

Last time they met: ECS21.008 | RIW 86(9.1) def PAK 81 (9 Feb 2021)

Match Prediction: RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW) to make it a clean sweep against PAK.

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MATCH 64(ECS21.064)

RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW) v BARNA ROYALS (BAR)

1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST

RIW Last Five Matches: W W L L NR (Avg Score For 93, Avg Score Against 102) 

BAR Last Five Matches: W L W NR (Avg Score For 105, Avg Score Against 103) 

RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW)

Captain: Waqar Iqbal

Wicketkeeper: Waqar Iqbal

Projected Top Four: Prince Dhiman, Mohsin Ali, Aamir Shahzad, Waqar Iqbal

Projected Opening Bowlers: Muhammad Nazim, Aqtadar Iqbal

Spin Options: Ehsan Elahi, Jagbeer Singh

RIPOLL WARRIORS Key Players:

Mohsin Ali, top run scorer (99) for RIW, launching 12 towering sixes at a strike rate of 220. 

Prince Dhiman, stylish RHB, right arm fast, has three wickets and 74 runs including a match-winning unbeaten 58 against Pakcelona.

Aamir Shahzad, very consistent with the ball, picking up six wickets from four games and has made it to the Dream Team in each of those four games!

BARNA ROYALS (BAR)

Captain: Nabeel Qaiser

Wicketkeeper: Taqqi Ul Mazhar

Projected Top Four: Syed Shafat Ali, Hamza Azhar, Taqqi Ul Mazhar, Sharjeel Qaiser

Projected Opening Bowlers: Syed Shafat Ali, Murad Ali

Spin Options: Usama Shahzad

BARNA ROYALS Key Players:

Hamza Azhar, all rounder, racked up 76 runs from three games and scalped two wickets.

Usama Shahzad, the talented LHB looked solid in his only appearance vs PAK with a 15-ball 35. He can roll his arm over and can even keep wicket, if required.

Shafat Ali Syed, missed the first couple of games but returned with a bang, scoring a blistering 32 at an SR of 267 and picking up a wicket in the powerplay.

Both teams are evenly matched with two wins to show for their efforts. Barna Royals just got the better of Ripoll Warriors in their previous encounter, but RIW will look to bounce back to make it a win a piece.

Last time they met: ECS21.019 | BAR 112(9.5) def RIW 111 (11 Feb 2021)

Match Prediction: RIPOLL WARRIORS (RIW) to edge an enthralling victory.

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MATCH 65 (ECS21.065)

HIRA SABADELL (HIS) v CITY LIONS (CLI)

1530 GMT | 1630 CET | 2100 IST

HIS Last Five Matches: L L NR NR NR (Avg Score For 86, Avg Score Against 104) 

CLI Last Five Matches: L W L NR NR (Avg Score For 82, Avg Score Against 95) 

HIRA SABADELL (HIS)

Captain: Shanawar Shahzad

Wicketkeeper: Sharanjit Singh

Projected Top Four: Bakhtiar Khalid, Alumdar Hussain, Heera Laal, Anwar Ul Haq

Projected Opening Bowlers: Adnan Abbas, Anwaar Ul Haq

Spin Options: Shanawar Shahzad, Mehmood Akhtar

HIRA SABADELL Key Players:

Alumdar Hussain scored a tidy 35 in his only appearance so far. He will be the key man for HIS when quick runs are needed.

Heera Laal scored 60 runs from two games with a best of 49* against Pak I Care. Has also picked up two wickets.

Anwar Ul Haq, has a beautiful action and bowls at a good pace, bagging a hat-trick against RIW.

CITY LIONS (CLI)

Captain: Amar Shakoor

Wicketkeeper: Kashif Shafi

Projected Top Four: Kashif Shafi, Shoaib Muhammad, Amar SHakoor, Irfan Muhammad

Projected Opening Bowlers: Shoaib Muhammad, Nadeem Razzaq

Spin Options: Ibrar Hussain

CITY LIONS Key Players:

Sikandar Raja, all rounder, has grabbed six wickets from five overs with a best of 3-14.

Kashif Shafi, leading run-scorer for CLI with 48 runs to his name from three matches at a strike rate of 171.

Zahid Nawaz, has been good with the ball picking up four wickets from three matches at an economy of just over 8.

Hira Sabadell unfortunately saw three games fall victim to the weather on Monday and as a result their qualification for Finals day seems a distinctly remote possibility. However, HIS will look for some consolation wins in the remaining games to end the season on a high.

Last time they met: ECS21.051 | Match Abandoned (22 Feb 2021)

Match Prediction: HIRA SABADELL (HIS) likely to register their first win of the season.

Catch all the action live on the European Cricket Network, available on the FanCode platform in the Indian subcontinent and streamed globally on the ECN - European Cricket Network YouTube channel.