FanCode ECS Sweden Malmo provides an opportunity for ten teams to showcase their skills, contesting 48 games over 12 days. 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 5 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Sweden, Malmo on Friday 6 August.
All these sides have already qualified for the knockout stages, but will be keen to finish as high as possible in the standings to ensure a potentially easier quarter-final next week.
Group A
AF Ariana AKIF (6-0, NRR+3.514)
ARI Ariana CC (5-1, NRR+0.958)
JKP Jonkoping (2-4, NRR-0.648)
MAL Malmo (2-4, NRR-0.946)
HRO Helsingborg Royals (1-7, NRR-1.765)
European Cricket Series Malmo 2020
European Cricket Series Gothenburg 2020
European Cricket Series Malmo 2021
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MATCH 17 (ECS21.620)
ARIANA CC (ARI) v ARIANA AKIF (AF)
0630 GMT | 0830 CET | 1200 IST
MATCH 18 (ECS21.621)
ARIANA CC (ARI) v ARIANA AKIF (AF)
0830 GMT | 1030 CET | 1400 IST
ARI Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 91, Avg Score Against 79)
AF Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 119, Avg Score Against 79)
ARIANA CC (ARI)
Captain: Nusratullah Sultan
Wicketkeeper: Nusratullah Sultan
Projected Top Four: Mahmood Babar, Bashir Ahmed, Nusratullah Sultan, Qader Khan
Projected Opening Bowlers: Atif Muhammad, Absar Khan
Spin Option(s): Dawood Shirzad, Mahmood Babar
ARIANA CC Key Players:
Nusratullah Sultan, captain, a solid top order batsman, second highest run scorer in the tournament mustering 139 runs at a SR of 204, including an unbeaten 75 off 30 balls vs Malmo earning himself a man of the match award.
Mahmood Babar, the experienced right handed batsman has racked up 92 runs from four innings and is the second highest run scorer for his side.
Yusuf Sahak, the all-rounder is the second highest wicket taker so far scalping 11 wickets. Picked up FOUR wickets in four balls vs MAL in astounding match winning figures of 5-6. He has also mustered 40 runs in three innings.
Dawood Shirzad, the wily leg spinner is the leading wicket taker picking up 13 wickets in six games with a best return of 4-16 vs JKP. He is the only bowler to have picked a four-fer twice in the series.
Baz Ayubi, the youngster has been impressive in his debut season picking up 10 wickets in six games at an economy rate of 6.00 and is the third highest wicket taker in the tournament.
ARIANA AKIF (AF)
Captain: Dharmender Singh
Wicketkeeper: Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Top Four: Delawar Khan, Khaled Mohammad, Abdul Naser, Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Sreekanth Medavarapu, Javid Khan
Spin Option(s): Anudeep Gudimella, Dharmender Singh, Rahatullah Rahatullah
ARIANA AKIF Key Players:
Ihsan Shirzad, the wicket keeper batsman is the top scorer in the tournament amassing 140 runs from six innings. He showed a nice array of shots in his match winning knock of 57* off 21 balls vs JKP on Thursday. Has won two man of the match awards for his efforts with the bat so far.
Khaled Mohammad, a talented top order batsman, one of the best batsmen in the AF side, second highest scorer for AF racking up 83 runs from six matches.
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. Top wicket taker for AF with FIVE scalps from six games.
Javid Khan, the all-rounder has impressed with both bat and ball, mustering 80 runs at a strike rate of 222 and scalping FOUR wickets in four matches.
Delawar Khan, one of the top all-rounders in the AF side. Top scorer for AF on Monday scoring 59 runs in two games including a man of the match performance of 46 off 26 balls. Also picked up three wickets.
Abdul Naser will be back in the side for this enthralling encounter. The hard hitting batsman was third highest run scorer in the tournament last term mustering 165 runs at an average of 55 and SR of 236. He hit the joint most sixes with 20 long hits over the ropes. Picked up FIVE wickets as well.
Unbeaten Ariana AKIF play fierce rivals Ariana CC with both sides eyeing top spot in the standings. Ariana CC enjoyed a day off on Thursday and will look to come back refreshed to the fray. Ariana AKIF boast a massive NRR advantage over their nearest rivals and will be confident of holding onto top spot.
Last time they met: AF 53(5) def ARI 49 (7 Aug 2020)
Match Prediction: Rivals Ariana AKIF and Ariana CC to share the spoils in their final group stage matches.
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MATCH 19 (ECS21.622)
JONKOPING (JKP) v MALMO (MAL)
1030 GMT | 1230 CET | 1600 IST
MATCH 20 (ECS21.623)
JONKOPING (JKP) v MALMO (MAL)
1230 GMT | 1430 CET | 1800 IST
JKP Last Five Matches: W L L L L (Avg Score For 82, Avg Score Against 103)
MAL Last Five Matches: L L L W W (Avg Score For 91, Avg Score Against 99)
JONKOPING (JKP)
Captain: Muhammad Ismail
Wicketkeeper: Bilal Munir
Projected Top Four: Riaz Khan, Sami Ibrahimkhil, Zabiullah Zadran, Sahargul Shirzad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Zabiullah Zadran, Sahargul Shirzad
Spin Option(s): Muhammad Ismail, Sami Ibrahimkhil
JONKOPING Key Players:
Riaz Khan, a very talented opening batsman, can destroy any bowling attack with his powerful hard-hitting ability. Struggled with the bat on Tuesday but was impressive with the ball picking up two wickets. Will be back in the side after a break and will look to dominate the bowlers up front.
Zabiullah Zadran, right arm fast bowler, opens the bowling for JKP, can deliver at 140+ speed easily. Also a very talented middle-order batsman, capable of building an innings and scoring quick runs. Top scorer and wicket taker for JKP racking up 112 runs and picking up SEVEN wickets in six games. He is also the most economical JKP bowler with an ER of 7.16.
Sahargul Shirzadis a very economical and wicket-taking bowler with the ability to swing the ball. He is also a middle-order batsman who can add quick runs. Second highest run scorer for JKP with 68 runs including a man of the match performance in the first game vs HRO scoring a quickfire 33 of 13 balls. Has picked up three wickets as well.
Sami Ibrahimkhil, left handed opening batsman, has the ability to hit the ball out of the park, was in good hitting form on Wednesday mustering 47 runs in two games vs ARI at a SR of 181. Has racked up a total of 62 runs from six games. Can also bowl some left-arm offies.
MALMO (MAL)
Captain: Hammad Rafiq
Wicketkeeper: Nikhil Mathur
Projected Top Four: Sunny Sharma, Nikhil Mathur, Hammad Rafiq, Qaiser Munir
Projected Opening Bowlers: Saqlain Shah, Azim Chinwari
Spin Option(s): Hammad Rafiq, Yarjan Mohammadi
MALMO Key Players:
Hammad Rafiq, star all-rounder, attacking middle order batsman, has the ability to take spinners apart on his day. A wily and reliable off-spinner, he will look to make breakthroughs in the middle overs. The all-rounder is leading the scoring sheets for his side with 134 runs and is also joint top wicket taker picking up SEVEN wickets.
Saad Mohammad, the 18-year old medium pacer returned figures of 4-11 on Tuesday vs ARI and is joint leading wicket taker for MAL with SEVEN wickets alongside captain Hammad Rafiq and Azim Chinwari.
Azim Chinwari, the 16-year old pace bowler has good pace and control. Swings the new ball away from the right handers. Recently picked for the Swedish U19 National Team. Returned figures of 3-23 in the opening game vs AF. Joint leading wicket taker for MAL picking up SEVEN wickets in six games.
Nikhil Mathur, the wicket keeper batsman, has looked in tremendous touch mustering 79 runs in four games at a strike rate of 188 and is second highest run scorer for his side.
Qaiser Munir, right arm fast bowler, usually bowls at the death, targeting the stumps. Is the biggest hitter in the team, can hit monster sixes for fun. Has mustered 42 runs and scalped SIX wickets in six games.
Previously winless Malmo overtook HRO, beating their nearest rivals twice on Thursday including a dramatic Golden Ball win to seal quarter-final qualification. After making an impressive start, Jonkoping, on the other hand, are on the slide and have lost four in a row. With that in mind, JKP will be looking to hold onto third spot in the standings with at least a win.
Match Prediction: Malmo and Jonkoping to come away with honours even.
Tune into the live action from Sweden from Monday to Saturday from 0630 GMT * 0830 CEST * 1200 IST *
