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 12 of the 2021 FanCode ECS Sweden, Malmo on Saturday 14 August.
With 44 games in the books, we have reached the business end of the competition. Two scintillating semi-finals await on Saturday, followed by the Bronze Final and the Final with the FanCode ECS Sweden Malmo trophy on the line.
Group A
AF Ariana AKIF (7-1, NRR+2.900, 8-1 Overall)
ARI Ariana CC (6-2, NRR+0.500, 7-2 Overall)
MAL Malmo (3-4-1, NRR-0.644, 4-4-1 Overall)
JKP Jonkoping (2-5-1, NRR-0.829, 2-6-1 Overall)
HRO Helsingborg Royals (1-7, NRR-1.765)
Group B
GOC Goteborg City (7-1, NRR+2.596, 8-1 Overall)
LAN Landskrona (5-3, NRR+1.272, 5-4 Overall)
MAM Malmohus (4-3-1, NRR+1.734, 4-4-1 Overall)
LND Lund (3-4-1, NRR-1.073, 3-5-1 Overall)
HSG Hisingens (0-6, NRR-5.304)
European Cricket Series Malmo 2021
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FINAL - MATCH 48 (ECS21.651)
GOTEBORG CITY (GOC) v ARIANA AKIF (AF)
1330 GMT | 1530 CET | 1900 IST
GOC Last Five Matches: W W W W W (Avg Score For 124, Avg Score Against 91)
AF Last Five Matches: W W L W W (Avg Score For 115, Avg Score Against 85)
GOTEBORG CITY (GOC)
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 307 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 221 runs in 10 games.
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 241 runs in nine innings including a 30-ball 55 in the opening semifinal.
Qasir Mahmood, the all-rounder looked good in the two games he played earlier in the tournament racking up 59 runs. He mustered a 5-ball 13 in the quarter-final vs JKP and returned figures of 2-23 in the semi-final vs ARI.
ARIANA AKIF (AF)
Captain: Dharmender Singh
Wicketkeeper: Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Top Four: Delawar Khan, Khaled Mohammad, Abdul Naser, Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Delawar Khan, Abdul Naser
Spin Option(s): Anudeep Gudimella, Dharmender Singh, Rahatullah Rahatullah
ARIANA AKIF Key Players:
Ihsan Shirzad, the wicket keeper batsman is the highest scorer for AF amassing 202 runs from 10 innings. He showed a nice array of shots in his match winning knock of 57* off 21 balls vs JKP in the group stage. Has won two man of the match awards for his efforts with the bat so far and will be key for AF in the crucial semi-final against MAL.
Khaled Mohammad, a talented top order batsman, one of the best batsmen in the AF side, joint second highest scorer for AF racking up 146 runs in nine innings.
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. Joint top wicket taker for AF with SEVEN scalps from 10 games.
Delawar Khan, one of the top all-rounders in the AF side. Joint second highest run scorer for AF racking up 123 runs in five innings. He is also the joint leading wicket taker for AF scalping SEVEN wickets at an economy rate of just 4.20!
Abdul Naser, the hard hitting batsman mustered an unbeaten 42 off just 11 balls against ARI to bag his first man of the match award in his very first game of the series. He bagged his second man of the match award in the quarter-final against LND for an impressive bowling figures of 3-6.
Newcomers Goteborg City have been mighty impressive in their debut season with 9-1 record and will be looking to win their maiden ECS tournament. Thereigning champs,ArianaAKIF, have truly played like champions with a similar record of 9-1 and have the experience of winning a big game. Both sides are equally capable of taking the trophy home and the match could turn out to be a humdinger.
Match Prediction: Ariana AKIF (AF) to be crowned champions for the second year running.
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BRONZE FINAL - MATCH 47 (ECS21.650)
ARIANA CC (ARI) v MALMO (MAL)
1130 GMT | 1330 CET | 1700 IST
ARI Last Five Matches: W L W W L (Avg Score For 99, Avg Score Against 104)
MAL Last Five Matches: W W NR W L (Avg Score For 120, Avg Score Against 90)
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, highest run scorer for ARI mustering 232 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 31 fours and 13 sixes.
Mahmood Babar, the experienced right handed batsman has racked up 136 runs from eight 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 innings and is the third highest run scorer for ARI.
Yusuf Sahak, the all-rounder is the highest wicket taker in the tournament scalping 19 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 48 runs in five innings.
Dawood Shirzad, the wily leg spinner is the second highest wicket taker picking up 15 wickets in 10 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.
MALMO (MAL)
Captain: Hammad Rafiq
Wicketkeeper: Nikhil Mathur
Projected Top Four: Abdur Rahman, Nikhil Mathur, Hammad Rafiq, Qaiser Munir
Projected Opening Bowlers: Saqlain Shah, Harris Aziz
Spin Option(s): Hammad Rafiq, Musadaq Mubarak
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 166 runs in nine innings and has picked up 10 wickets. Plundered five sixes in an over to take his side to a famous win over JKP last week.
Musadaq Mubarak, the all-rounder is having an impressive season racking up 87 runs in eight innings and picking up NINE wickets including a best return of 3-4 vs LAN in the quarter-final.
Nikhil Mathur, the wicket keeper batsman, has looked in tremendous touch mustering 133 runs in six games at a strike rate of 193 and is second highest run scorer for his side.
Sunny Sharma, the right handed opening batsman has racked up 106 runs in nine innings and is the third highest run scorer for Malmo.
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 67 runs and scalped 12 wickets in 10 games including 3-17 vs AF in the semi-final.
Saad Mohammad, the 18-year old medium pacer returned figures of 4-11 on Tuesday vs ARI and is second highest wicket taker for MAL with EIGHT wickets with a best return of 4-11.
Ariana CC and Malmo have had an impressive run but fell short in the semi-finals. The two sides will be looking to at least get a podium finish in this bronze medal encounter.
Last time they met: ECS21.609 | ARI 118 def MAL 88 (3 Aug 2021)
Match Prediction: Ariana CC (ARI) won both the games against Malmo in the group stages and are likely to keep their unbeaten record against MAM.
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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)
GOTEBORG CITY (GOC)
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.
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, 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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2nd SEMI FINAL - MATCH 46 (ECS21.649)
ARIANA AKIF (AF) v MALMO (MAL)
0830 GMT | 1030 CET | 1400 IST
AF Last Five Matches: W W W L W (Avg Score For 121, Avg Score Against 82)
MAL Last Five Matches: W W W NR W (Avg Score For 121, Avg Score Against 88)
ARIANA AKIF (AF)
Captain: Dharmender Singh
Wicketkeeper: Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Top Four: Delawar Khan, Khaled Mohammad, Abdul Naser, Ihsan Shirzad
Projected Opening Bowlers: Delawar Khan, Abdul Naser
Spin Option(s): Anudeep Gudimella, Dharmender Singh, Rahatullah Rahatullah
ARIANA AKIF Key Players:
Ihsan Shirzad, the wicket keeper batsman is the highest scorer for AF amassing 181 runs from nine innings at a SR of 218. He showed a nice array of shots in his match winning knock of 57* off 21 balls vs JKP in the group stage. Has won two man of the match awards for his efforts with the bat so far and will be key for AF in the crucial semi-final against MAL.
Khaled Mohammad, a talented top order batsman, one of the best batsmen in the AF side, joint second highest scorer for AF racking up 123 runs in eight innings.
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. Joint top wicket taker for AF with SEVEN scalps from nine games.
Delawar Khan, one of the top all-rounders in the AF side. Joint second highest run scorer for AF racking up 123 runs in five innings. He is also the joint leading wicket taker for AF scalping SEVEN wickets at an economy rate of just 4.20!
Abdul Naser, the hard hitting batsman mustered an unbeaten 42 off just 11 balls against ARI to bag his first man of the match award in his very first game of the series. He bagged his second man of the match award in the quarter-final against LND for an impressive bowling figures of 3-6.
MALMO (MAL)
Captain: Hammad Rafiq
Wicketkeeper: Nikhil Mathur
Projected Top Four: Abdur Rahman, Nikhil Mathur, Hammad Rafiq, Qaiser Munir
Projected Opening Bowlers: Saqlain Shah, Harris Aziz
Spin Option(s): Hammad Rafiq, Musadaq Mubarak
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 164 runs in seven innings and has picked up EIGHT wickets. Plundered five sixes in an over to take his side to a famous win over JKP last week.
Musadaq Mubarak, the all-rounder is having an impressive season racking up 86 runs in seven innings and picking up NINE wickets including a best return of 3-4 vs LAN in the quarter-final.
Nikhil Mathur, the wicket keeper batsman, has looked in tremendous touch mustering 94 runs in five games at a strike rate of 181 and is third highest run scorer for his side.
Sunny Sharma, the right handed opening batsman has racked up 97 runs in eight innings and is the second highest run scorer for Malmo.
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 66 runs and scalped NINE wickets in nine games including 2-10 vs LAN in the quarter-final.
Ariana AKIF topped Group A with seven wins out of eight. Thereigning champs cruised past Lund in the third quarter-final with four overs to spare.
Much-improved Malmo lost their first four games, but bounced back strongly and are on a roll, skittling the hosts Landskrona for only 52 in the second quarter-final, chasing down the target in only 3.3 overs.
Ariana AKIF hold the wood over Malmo winning both their group stage matches and will be confident of progressing through to the final while MAL would look to avenge the two losses in this all-important semi-final clash.
Last time they met: ECS21.605 | AF 109 def MAL 60 (2 Aug 2021)
Match Prediction: Ariana AKIF (AF) to secure a spot in the final with a thrilling win over Malmo.
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