1st SEMI FINAL - MATCH 45 (ECS21.648) GOTEBORG CITY (GOC) v ARIANA CC (ARI) 0630 GMT | 0830 CET | 1200 IST
GOC Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 122, Avg Score Against 90)
ARI Last Five Matches: W W L W W (Avg Score For 96, Avg Score Against 94)
Captain: Abu Zar
Wicketkeeper: Shadhin Mahmood
Projected Top Four: Rahim Safi, Abu Zar, Mahib Shahin, Qasir Mahmood
Projected Opening Bowlers: Rahim Safi,Mahib Shahin
Spin Option(s): Hasibur Rahman, Vikas Dixit, Abu Zar
GOTEBORG CITY Key Players:
Rahim Safi, joined GOC this season, one of the best all-rounders in the side, has the ability to change games on his own with his power-hitting. Also very quick and reliable with the ball in his hand. Leading run scorer in the tournament with 298 runs to his name including a match winning knock of 72* off 29 balls vs JKP in the quarter-final. He has also picked up SIX wickets.
Abu Zar, captain, LHB, is the best batsman in the side. Second highest run scorer for GOC amassing 205 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 192.
Mahib Shahin, the hard hitting all-rounder bagged man of the match award in his very first ECS match for his all-round performance mustering 38 off 20 and picking up 2-16 vs LAN. He is leading the wickets column for GOC picking up 10 wickets. He has also scored 186 runs in eight innings and is the third highest scorer for GOC.
Qasir Mahmood, the all-rounder looked good in the two games he played earlier in the tournament racking up 45 runs at a SR of 173. He mustered a 5-ball 13 in the quarter-final vs JKP.
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, highest run scorer for ARI mustering 228 runs at a SR of 198, including an unbeaten 52 off 20 balls vs Malmohus earning himself a second man of the match award. Has plundered 30 fours and 13 sixes.
Mahmood Babar, the experienced right handed batsman has racked up 136 runs from seven innings and is the second highest run scorer for his side. Scored an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls vs MAM in the quarter-final.
Bashir Ahmed, technically sound, has looked good with the bat scoring 123 runs in nine matches and is the third highest run scorer for ARI.
Yusuf Sahak, the all-rounder is the highest wicket taker in the tournament scalping 16 wickets. Picked up FOUR wickets in four balls vs MAL in astounding match winning figures of 5-6. Returned impressive figures of 3-9 vs MAM in the quarter-final. He has also mustered 43 runs in four innings.
Dawood Shirzad, the wily leg spinner is the second highest wicket taker picking up 14 wickets in nine 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.
Ariana finished with an impressive 6-2 record, the only team to beat Ariana AKIF in the group stages and romped into the semis with a well-timed chase against Malmohus in the opening quarter-final.
Newcomers Goteborg City are in prime form, topping Group B with seven wins in eight games and confidently moved into the semi-finals winning by 12 runs against JKP in the fourth quarter-final.
The two sides have been impressive throughout the tournament with some brilliant individual performances on either side. Both teams are matched evenly and this encounter could go either way.
Match Prediction: Considering the stats of last five matches of the two teams, Goteborg City look a touch ahead of Ariana CC and are likely to edge past their opponents in a close contest.
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