FanCode ECS Spain L'Alfas del Pi sees three teams contest 12 games over three days to establish the Champions. 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 1 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Spain, L’Alfas del Pi on Wednesday 27 October.
All three Spanish teams were part of history, taking part in the first-ever European Cricket Series event, namely the Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante in March 2020.
In fact, Madrid United made history by winning our opening ECS event namely the Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante in March 2020. Madrid United also prevailed in the very-first Golden Ball Finish!
Hosts Sporting Alfas will fancy their chances on home soil and go into the tournament as strong favourites, befitting their status as one of the most successful clubs in the country. Formed in 1996, Sporting Alfas appeared invincible in the very-first Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante. Sporting Alfas simply dominated all their group games in that inaugural Dream11 ECS, but came unstuck in a massive semi-final shock against Pinatar Pirates.
Founded in 1997 in Alicante, Intellectuals will be looking to improve on a disappointing showing in Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante when the Intellectuals were left scratching their heads after going winless in six games. Second division champions in the ECCL (East Coast and Central League) 40 overs competition in 2019, Intellectuals again face an uphill task but with the pressure off and expectations low, could always spring a surprise against more-fancied opposition.
Teams
INT Intellectuals CC (0-0, NRR+0.000)
MAU Madrid United (0-0, NRR+0.000)
SPA Sporting Alfas (0-0, NRR+0.000)
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MATCH 1 (ECS21.796)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA) v INTELLECTUALS (INT)
0700 GMT | 0900 CET | 1230 IST
MATCH 2 (ECS21.797)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA) v INTELLECTUALS (INT)
0900 GMT | 1100 CET | 1430 IST
SPA Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 105, Avg Score Against 108)
INT Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 90, Avg Score Against 132)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA)
Captain: Phill Pennick
Wicketkeeper: Rhys Fowler
Projected Top Four: Phill Pennick, Christian Munoz, Jack Perman, Jamie Roper
Projected Opening Bowlers: Jake Sunderland, Darren Walker
Spin Options: Jack Perman
SPORTING ALFAS Key Players:
Jack Perman, the Spanish International looked in tremendous form in the first ever European Cricket Championship amassing 315 runs in 16 innings at a SR of 196. He can also roll his arm and bowl some wrist spin.
Christian Munoz, captain of Spanish National Team, a fine batter who scored over hundred runs in the ECC batting in the lower middle order. He will cherish opening the innings for SPA.
Waqar Ashraf, the right arm medium pacer impressed in the Dream11European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 leading the wickets column for SPA with FIVE wickets in seven games.
INTELLECTUALS (INT)
Captain: Husnain Akram
Wicketkeeper: Javed Iqbal
Projected Top Four: Javed Iqbal, Shakeel Sultan, Furqan Muhammad, Nadeem Muhammad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hassan Askari, Ibtisam Ahmad
Spin Options: Furqan Muhammad
INTELLECTUALS Key Players:
Nadeem Muhammad, experienced right handed batter, top scorer for INT at Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 racking up 167 runs in four games without being dismissed. He scored 30+ runs in each of those four innings.
Furqan Muhammad, talented 21-year old all-rounder, played for Levante CC in the inaugural ECS in Alicante. The right hander scored 175 runs in seven matches at an average of 58.33.
Hassan Askari, right arm fast bowler, was top wicket taker for INTat Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 picking up FOUR wickets in six games including a tournament best figures of 3-8.
Javed Iqbal, wicket keeper batter, has played First Class cricket and List A games in Pakistan. He will be eyeing to score big runs at the top of the order.
Hosts Sporting Alfas dominated all their group games in that inaugural Dream11 ECS, but came unstuck in a massive semi-final shock against Pinatar Pirates. SPA will be aiming to go the distance this time around.
Intellectuals will be looking to improve on a disappointing showing in Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante when they were left scratching their heads after going winless in six games.
Last time they met: SPA 186 def INT 89 (3 Mar 2020)
Match Prediction: Sporting Alfas (SPA) to win both games comfortably.
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MATCH 3 (ECS21.798)
MADRID UNITED (MAU) v INTELLECTUALS (INT)
1100 GMT | 1300 CET | 1630 IST
MAU Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 117, Avg Score Against 115)
INT Last Five Matches: L L L L L (Avg Score For 90, Avg Score Against 132)
MADRID UNITED (MAU)
Captain: Ittefaq Ahmad
Wicketkeeper: Kamil Ahmed/Hamid Abdul
Projected Top Four: Ittefaq Ahmad, Abul Kalam Azad, Robiul Khan, Kamil Ahmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Waqar Mirza, Jahidul Islam
Spin Options: Shazzad Hossain, Ittefaq Ahmad, Abul Kalam Azad
MADRID UNITED Key Players:
Robiul Khan, valuable all-rounder, racked up 119 runs in seven games at Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 and picked up a couple of wickets as well.
Waqar Mirza, right handed batter with previous ECS experience, scored 74 runs in four inningsat Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020.
Ittefaq Ahmad, the skipper will look to lead from the front with both bat and ball.
INTELLECTUALS (INT)
Captain: Husnain Akram
Wicketkeeper: Javed Iqbal
Projected Top Four: Javed Iqbal, Shakeel Sultan, Furqan Muhammad, Nadeem Muhammad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Hassan Askari, Ibtisam Ahmad
Spin Options: Furqan Muhammad
INTELLECTUALS Key Players:
Nadeem Muhammad, experienced right handed batter, top scorer for INT at Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 racking up 167 runs in four games without being dismissed. He scored 30+ runs in each of those four innings.
Furqan Muhammad, talented 21-year old all-rounder, played for Levante CC in the inaugural ECS in Alicante. The right hander scored 175 runs in seven matches at an average of 58.33.
Hassan Askari, right arm fast bowler, was top wicket taker for INTat Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 picking up FOUR wickets in six games including a tournament best figures of 3-8.
Javed Iqbal, wicket keeper batter, has played First Class cricket and List A games in Pakistan. He will be eyeing to score big runs at the top of the order.
Madrid United made history by winning the first ever ECS in Alicante in March last year. However, MAU are without a few of their star players from that tournament and might struggle this time around. Intellectuals will be keen to pounce on the opportunity to seal their first ever victory in ECS. INT will also have the advantage of playing a couple of games already before this encounter and will be familiar with the conditions.
Last time they met: MAU 87(6.5) def INT 84 (3 Mar 2020)
Match Prediction: Intellectuals CC (INT) to register first ever ECS win.
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MATCH 4 (ECS21.799)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA) v MADRID UNITED (MAU)
1300 GMT | 1500 CET | 1830 IST
SPA Last Five Matches: W W W L L (Avg Score For 105, Avg Score Against 108)
MAU Last Five Matches: L W L W W (Avg Score For 117, Avg Score Against 115)
SPORTING ALFAS (SPA)
Captain: Phill Pennick
Wicketkeeper: Rhys Fowler
Projected Top Four: Phill Pennick, Christian Munoz, Jack Perman, Jamie Roper
Projected Opening Bowlers: Jake Sunderland, Darren Walker
Spin Options: Jack Perman
SPORTING ALFAS Key Players:
Jack Perman, the Spanish International looked in tremendous form in the first ever European Cricket Championship amassing 315 runs in 16 innings at a SR of 196. He can also roll his arm and bowl some wrist spin.
Christian Munoz, captain of Spanish National Team, a fine batter who scored over hundred runs in the ECC batting in the lower middle order. He will cherish opening the innings for SPA.
Waqar Ashraf, the right arm medium pacer impressed in the Dream11European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 leading the wickets column for SPA with FIVE wickets in seven games.
MADRID UNITED (MAU)
Captain: Ittefaq Ahmad
Wicketkeeper: Kamil Ahmed/Hamid Abdul
Projected Top Four: Ittefaq Ahmad, Abul Kalam Azad, Robiul Khan, Kamil Ahmed
Projected Opening Bowlers: Waqar Mirza, Jahidul Islam
Spin Options: Shazzad Hossain, Ittefaq Ahmad, Abul Kalam Azad
MADRID UNITED Key Players:
Robiul Khan, valuable all-rounder, racked up 119 runs in seven games at Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020 and picked up a couple of wickets as well.
Waqar Mirza, right handed batter with previous ECS experience, scored 74 runs in four inningsat Dream11 European Cricket Series Alicante 2020.
Ittefaq Ahmad, the skipper will look to lead from the front with both bat and ball.
Sporting Alfas play their third game of the day and will be keen to end on a high. SPA beat MAU convincingly in their previous meeting and will be looking for a similar performance.
Last time they met: SPA 103(6.3) def MAU 102 (4 Mar 2020)
Match Prediction: Sporting Alfas (SPA) to win three consecutive games.
