European Cricket Network live broadcasts four T10 matches on Day 3 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Sweden, Malmo on Wednesday 4 August.
The top four sides meet, currently in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages. Unbeaten Ariana AKIF will look to regain top spot, while arch rivals Ariana CC will be hoping for another solid performance against a strong Jonkoping side.
Group A
ARIAriana CC (3-1, NRR+1.142)
AFAriana AKIF (2-0, NRR+2.938)
JKPJonkoping (2-0, NRR+2.550)
HROHelsingborg Royals (1-3, NRR-1.496)
MALMalmo (0-4, NRR-2.333)
European Cricket Series Malmo 2020
European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020
European Cricket Series Malmo 2021
__________________
MATCH 9 (ECS21.612)
HELSINGBORG ROYALS (HRO) v ARIANA AKIF (AF)
0630 GMT | 0830 CET | 1200 IST
MATCH 10 (ECS21.613)
HELSINGBORG ROYALS (HRO) v ARIANA AKIF (AF)
0830 GMT | 1030 CET | 1400 IST
HRO Last Five Matches: L W L L L (Avg Score For 74, Avg Score Against 89)
AF Last Five Matches: L W W W W (Avg Score For 107, Avg Score Against 80)
HELSINGBORG ROYALS (HRO)
Captain: Madhan Prabu
Wicketkeeper: Madhan Prabu
Projected Top Four: Abinash Panda, Pramod Kompella, Prasanjit Behera, Madhan Prabu
Projected Opening Bowlers: Gour Sadashiv, Sachin Shetty
Spin Option(s): Rohit Saproo, Abinash Panda
HELSINGBORG ROYALS Key Players:
Abinash Panda, a talented opening batsman, capable of playing fast paced innings. Can bowl quick off spinners and is one of the best all-rounders in the HRO side. Top run scorer and wicket taker for HRO at European Cricket Series Malmo 2020 scoring 92 runs and picking up three wickets. Has scored 41 runs and picked up three wickets in four games.
Davinder Singh, the hard hitting middle order batsman has racked up 62 runs from four matches, top scoring for his side.
Rohit Saproo, a tricky slow bowler, the angle and speed at which he bowls will make it tougher for batsmen. Useful middle order batter, can contribute vital runs. Has picked up five wickets with a best return of 2-9.
Madhan Prabu, captain, right hand middle order batsman, one of the best hitters in the HRO lineup with a career strike rate of over 140. Will be donning the keeping gloves this season, but can also bowl if needed. Has racked up 40 runs in three innings.
Gour Sadashiv, fast bowler, can produce inswingers at decent speed, highest wicket taker for HRO last season and is generally economical. Top wicket taker for HRO picking up five scalps at an ER of 6.25.
Prasanjit Behera, a talented all-round cricketer, a good technical batsman, has the ability to bowl tight line and length with good swing. He is also a gun fielder. Second highest run scorer for HRO with 55 runs from four games. Is also joint top wicket taker for HRO scalping SIX wickets including a best return of 4-7 vs JKP on Tuesday. Has bagged two man of the match awards in four games.
ARIANA AKIF (AF)
Captain: Dharmender Singh
Wicketkeeper: Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Top Four: Ayub Azizi, Khaled Mohammad, Ihsan Shirzad, Rahatullah Rahatullah
Projected Opening Bowlers: Yousaf Babak, Sedik Sahak
Spin Option(s): Anudeep Gudimella, Dharmender Singh, Rahatullah Rahatullah
ARIANA AKIF Key Players:
Khaled Mohammad, a talented top order batsman, racked up 101 runs last term at a SR of 171 at European Cricket Series Malmo 2020. Scored 57 runs on Monday.
Yousaf Babak, the right arm medium pacer returned figures of 3-15 in the only game he played on Monday.
Dharmender Singh, captain, slow left arm orthodox, scalped 2-10 vs Malmo in the opening match bagging his first man of the match award this season.
Ariana AKIF return to the fray, refreshed after a day off and will be confident of seeing off Helsingborg Royals who struggled to compete with JKP on Tuesday.
Match Prediction: Ariana AKIF (AF) to win both games with plenty to spare.
__________________
MATCH 11 (ECS21.614)
JONKOPING (JKP) v ARIANA CC (ARI)
1030 GMT | 1230 CET | 1600 IST
MATCH 12 (ECS21.615)
JONKOPING (JKP) v ARIANA CC (ARI)
1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
JKP Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 98, Avg Score Against 72)
ARI Last Five Matches: L L W W W (Avg Score For 81, Avg Score Against 84)
JONKOPING (JKP)
Captain: Muhammad Ismail
Wicketkeeper: Bilal Munir
Projected Top Four: Sami Ibrahimkhil, Muhammad Ismail, Zabiullah Zadran, Sahargul Shirzad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zabiullah Zadran, Sahargul Shirzad
Spin Option(s): Muhammad Ismail, Sami Ibrahimkhil
JONKOPING Key Players:
Zabiullah Zadran, right arm fast bowler, will open the bowling for JKP, can deliver at 140+ speed easily. Leading wicket taker at European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020, picking up 10 wickets at an ER of just 5.60. Also a very talented middle-order batsman, capable of building an innings and scoring quick runs. Top scorer and wicket taker for JKP on Tuesday racking up 55 runs and picking up three in two games.
Muhammad Tanveer, the hard hitting middle order batsman mustered 41 runs at a staggering strike rate of 315. He hit SIX sixes on Tuesday - the most by any JKP batsman.
Sahargul Shirzad is a very economical and wicket-taking bowler with the ability to swing the ball. Scalped EIGHT wickets at an economy rate of 5.64 last term at European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020. He is also a middle-order batsman who can add quick runs. Man of the match in the first game vs HRO for scoring a quickfire 33 of 13 balls.
Bhavya Patel, right-hand medium-pace bowler who is generally one of the leading wicket-takers for JKP in all tournaments. He has good control and bowls in good channels. Joint second highest wicket taker for JKP last term at European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020 with EIGHT wickets to his name. Picked up two wickets on Tuesday.
Sami Ibrahimkhil, left handed opening batsman, has the ability to hit the ball out of the park, scored 64 runs in five innings at European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020. Can also bowl some left-arm offies.
ARIANA CC (ARI)
Captain: Nusratullah Sultan
Wicketkeeper: Nusratullah Sultan
Projected Top Four: Mahmood Babar, Bashir Ahmed, Nusratullah Sultan, Qader Khan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Absar Khan, Baz Ayubi
Spin Option(s): Dawood Shirzad, Mahmood Babar
ARIANA CC Key Players:
Nusratullah Sultan, captain, a solid top order batsman, amassed 155 runs in four innings at an average of 77.50 and SR of 207 including three man of the match performances at European Cricket Series Malmo 2020. Top scorer after the second day mustering 114 runs at a SR of 219 including an unbeaten 75 off 30 balls vs Malmo earning himself a man of the match award.
Bashir Ahmed, technically sound, racked up 120 runs in five innings with a best score of 56* off 28 balls vs Malmo at European Cricket Series Malmo 2020. Looked good with the bat scoring a crucial 21* in the second game on Monday, amassing 52 runs in four matches.
Yusuf Sahak, the all-rounder impressed on Monday top scoring for ARI with 24 runs and picking up three wickets. Joint highest wicket taker so far scalping NINE wickets. Picked up FOUR wicket in four balls vs MAL returning match winning figures of 5-6 on Tuesday.
Dawood Shirzad, the wily leg spinner impressed last term at European Cricket Series Malmo 2020 scalping SIX wickets in five games. Joint leading wicket taker picking up NINE wickets in four games with a best return of 4-21 vs Malmo.
Jonkoping started with intent with two wins on Tuesday, while Ariana have attained three victories on the trot after coming unstuck in their opening encounter. The two sides are evenly matched and might share the honours on Day 3.
Match Prediction: Ariana CC and Jonkoping to share the spoils with a win apiece.