European Cricket Network live broadcasts five T10 matches on Day 8 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Spain, Barcelona on Wednesday 17 February. Tune in to the live action from 0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST from the Montjuïc Cricket Ground in Barcelona, Spain.
Minhaj have serious momentum in Group C after the opening action with two comprehensive victories. Kharian impressed on debut, while there were also wins for Raval Sporting and Bangladesh Kings. Newcomers Barcelona Gladiators and Skyways both seek a first win on day eight.
MIN Minhaj (2-0, NRR+6.200)
KHA Kharian (1-0, NRR+2.811)
BAK Bangladesh Kings (1-1, NRR-1.004)
RAS Raval Sporting (1-1, NRR-3.001)
SKY Skyways (0-2, NRR-2.350)
BAG Barcelona Gladiators (0-1, NRR-2.811)
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MATCH 36 (ECS21.036)
KHARIAN (KHA) v RAVAL SPORTING (RAS)
0730 GMT | 0830 CET | 1300 IST
KHA Last Five Matches: W (Avg Score For 125, Avg Score Against 98)
RAS Last Five Matches: L W W L W (Avg Score For 101, Avg Score Against 101)
KHARIAN (KHA)
Captain: Adeel Ahmed
Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Zarar
Projected Top Four: Qaiser Zulfiqar, Muhammad Zarar, Muhammad Umar Waqas, Adeel Ahmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Adeel Ahmed, Junaid Ali
Spin Options: Jahanzaib Asghar
KHARIAN Key Players:
Qaiser Zulfiqar scored a blistering 40 off just 14 balls including five fours and three sixes.
Adeel Ahmed, leading run-scorer for KHA in T10, got his team to a flier with his 6-ball 14 and also picked up a wicket.
Jahanzaib Asghar bowled a match winning spell of 3-8 in his very first ECS game.
RAVAL SPORTING (RAS)
Captain: Karan Datta
Wicketkeeper: Kishitij Patel
Projected Top Four: Kishitij Patel, Karan Datta, Davinder Singh, Manish Manwani
Projected Opening Bowlers: Manish Manwani, Sonu Jangra
Spin Options: Karan Datta, Gaurang Mahyavanshi
RAVAL SPORTING Key Players:
Manish Manwani, ultra-talented 17-year-old all-rounder, returned with a man of the match performance of 2-15 against SKY.
Gaurang Mahyavanshi, talented spinner, scalped four wickets at an economy rate of just 6.25!
Kishitij Patel, wicketkeeper batsman, looked good in his short stay but needs to be consistent.
Kharian won on the chase against fellow newcomers Barcelona Gladiators, a rarity in this ECS. KHA can follow up on their impressive start with victory over a Raval Sporting side, missing a few key performers.
Match Prediction: KHARIAN (KHA) to shock RAS to keep their 100 percent record.
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MATCH 37 (ECS21.037)
RAVAL SPORTING (RAS) v BARCELONA GLADIATORS (BAG)
0930 GMT | 1030 CET | 1500 IST
RAS Last Five Matches: L W W L W (Avg Score For 101, Avg Score Against 101)
BAG Last Five Matches: L (Avg Score For 98, Avg Score Against 125)
RAVAL SPORTING (RAS)
Captain: Karan Datta
Wicketkeeper: Kishitij Patel
Projected Top Four: Kishitij Patel, Karan Datta, Davinder Singh, Manish Manwani
Projected Opening Bowlers: Manish Manwani, Sonu Jangra
Spin Options: Karan Datta, Gaurang Mahyavanshi
RAVAL SPORTING Key Players:
Manish Manwani, ultra-talented 17-year-old all-rounder, returned with a man of the match performance of 2-15 against SKY.
Gaurang Mahyavanshi, talented spinner, scalped four wickets at an economy rate of just 6.25!
Kishitij Patel, wicketkeeper batsman, looked good in his short stay but he needs to be consistent
BARCELONA GLADIATORS (BAG)
Captain: Babar Bashrat
Wicketkeeper: Shahid Nazir
Projected Top Four: Shahid Nazir, Babar Bashrat, Arsalan Yousaf, Tanzeer ur Rehman
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ali Raza, Muhammad Umar
Spin Options: Nadeem Muhammad, Zahid Akbar
BARCELONA GLADIATORS Key Players:
Shahid Nazir, very stylish yet dangerous batsman, scored 221 runs in October tournament (including a 116* off 34 balls) at a staggering SR of over 240.
Ali Raza has decent pace, dismissed both hard-hitting KHA openers with top class deliveries.
Arsalan Muhammad, promising young batsman, scored a well-crafted 34, including three maximos.
Barcelona Gladiators dropped too many catches on their ECS debut and will have to improve in all facets of the game to challenge RAS.
Match Prediction: RAVAL SPORTING (RAS) to hand BAG their second straight loss.
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MATCH 38 (ECS21.038)
MINHAJ (MIN) v KHARIAN (KHA)
1130 GMT | 1230 CET | 1700 IST
MIN Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 116, Avg Score Against 103)
KHA Last Five Matches: W (Avg Score For 125, Avg Score Against 98)
MINHAJ (MIN)
Captain: Amar Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Four: Awais Ahmed, Jafar Iqbal, Usman Mushtaq, Asjad Butt
Projected Opening Bowlers: Amar Shahzad, Khalid Mehmood
Spin Options: Ameer Hamzah
MINHAJ Key Players:
Awais Ahmed, classy Spain international wicketkeeper, mustered 84 runs from two matches at a strike rate of 184.
Asjad Butt looked in sublime form, hammering 99 runs at a strike rate of 254 including a 32-ball 84 against BAK.
Khalid Mehmood, all-rounder, didn't get to bat but made the most with the ball picking up three wickets from two games.
KHARIAN (KHA)
Captain: Adeel Ahmed
Wicketkeeper: Muhammad Zarar
Projected Top Four: Qaiser Zulfiqar, Muhammad Zarar, Muhammad Umar Waqas, Adeel Ahmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Adeel Ahmed, Junaid Ali
Spin Options: Jahanzaib Asghar
KHARIAN Key Players:
Qaiser Zulfiqar scored a blistering 40 off just 14 balls including five fours and three sixes.
Adeel Ahmed, leading run-scorer for KHA in T10, got his team to a flier with his 6-ball 14 and also picked up a wicket.
Jahanzaib Asghar bowled a match winning spell of 3-8 in his very first ECS game.
Minhaj were mightily impressive, starting with intent on day 6 with two powerful displays. Kharian also impressed on debut, but will struggle to challenge the favourites in Group C.
Match Prediction: Minhaj to hand Kharian their first defeat.
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MATCH 39 (ECS21.039)
SKYWAYS (SKY) v BARCELONA GLADIATORS (BAG)
1330 GMT | 1430 CET | 1900 IST
SKY Last Five Matches: L L (Avg Score For 73, Avg Score Against 95)
BAG Last Five Matches: L (Avg Score For 98, Avg Score Against 125)
SKYWAYS (SKY)
Captain: Adeel Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Sharoon Bashir
Projected Top Four: Sharoon Bashir, Rabi Asif, Hamad Khalid, Adeel Arif
Projected Opening Bowlers: Adeel Shahzad, Adeel Arif
Spin Options: Umer Hayat, Shehroz George
SKYWAYS Key Players:
Adeel Shahzad, captain, chipped in with a crucial 12-ball 23 runs to take his side to a respectable total in the first game.
Adeel Arif, big hitter, right arm fast bowler with good pace and bounce, picked up 2-12 against BAK.
Rabi Asif gave RAS a mini scare when he grabbed three quick wickets from just 10 balls.
BARCELONA GLADIATORS (BAG)
Captain: Babar Bashrat
Wicketkeeper: Shahid Nazir
Projected Top Four: Shahid Nazir, Babar Bashrat, Arsalan Yousaf, Tanzeer ur Rehman
Projected Opening Bowlers: Ali Raza, Muhammad Umar
Spin Options: Nadeem Muhammad, Zahid Akbar
BARCELONA GLADIATORS Key Players:
Shahid Nazir, very stylish yet dangerous batsman, scored 221 runs in October tournament (including a 116* off 34 balls) at a staggering SR of over 240.
Ali Raza has decent pace, dismissed both hard-hitting KHA openers with top class deliveries.
Arsalan Muhammad, promising young batsman, scored a well-crafted 34, including three maximos.
Both Skyways and Barcelona Gladiators struggled on the opening day and will probably be seeking their first victory of the competition. Barcelona Gladiators look to have more firepower over the shorter format and can hand SKY their third straight loss.
Match Prediction: BARCELONA GLADIATORS (BAG) to edge the win against a struggling Skyways side.
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MATCH 40 (ECS21.040)
MINHAJ (MIN) v SKYWAYS (SKY)
1530 GMT | 1630 CET | 2100 IST
MIN Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 116, Avg Score Against 103)
SKY Last Five Matches: L L (Avg Score For 73, Avg Score Against 95)
MINHAJ (MIN)
Captain: Amar Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Awais Ahmed
Projected Top Four: Awais Ahmed, Jafar Iqbal, Usman Mushtaq, Asjad Butt
Projected Opening Bowlers: Amar Shahzad, Khalid Mehmood
Spin Options: Ameer Hamzah
MINHAJ Key Players:
Awais Ahmed, classy Spain international wicketkeeper, mustered 84 runs from two matches at a strike rate of 184.
Asjad Butt looked in sublime form, hammering 99 runs at a strike rate of 254 including a 32-ball 84 against BAK.
Khalid Mehmood, all-rounder, didn't get to bat but made the most with the ball picking up three wickets from two games.
SKYWAYS (SKY)
Captain: Adeel Shahzad
Wicketkeeper: Sharon Bashir
Projected Top Four: Sharoon Bashir, Rabi Asif, Hamad Khalid, Adeel Arif
Projected Opening Bowlers: Adeel Shahzad, Adeel Arif
Spin Options: Umer Hayat, Shehroz George
SKYWAYS Key Players:
Adeel Shahzad, captain, chipped in with a crucial 12-ball 23 runs to take his side to a respectable total in the first game.
Adeel Arif, big hitter, right arm fast bowler with good pace and bounce, picked up 2-12 against BAK.
Rabi Asif gave RAS a mini scare when he grabbed three quick wickets from just 10 balls.
Mighty Minhaj will face off against struggling Skyways in the final match of the day and if they bat first, MIN could well rack up the highest total of the #ECS21 season.
Match Prediction: Favourites MINHAJ (MIN) to motor to another win over outclassed Skyways.
