PREVIEW: MATCH 4 – Kingsgrove Milan v Padova – European Cricket Series Rome

Tune in to the live action Monday from 3:15pm CET * 2:15pm UK/GMT * 7:45pm IST from the Roma Spinaceto ground in Rome, Italy.

Team Preview for Kingsgrove Milan

Kingsgrove Milan CC are one of the leading clubs in Northern Italy and as such can be considered one of the favourites for this European Cricket Series. They have good results in short-form cricket this year, going 5-1 in the T20 competition. However, Kingsgrove Milan will have to do without regular captain Tharindu Fernando who misses the tournament for personal reasons. He has been in good form with mat and ball but they have plenty of players ready to step up in his absence.

Captain: Bentota “Joy” Perera

Main Wicketkeeper: Sadeeth Varadharajah

Key Players:

Joy Perera is the Italian national cricket captain. A big-hitting opening bastsman who averages 35 in T20 internationals, he takes over the reins from regular captain Fernando for this European Cricket Series. He will relish the small boundaries on offer in the European Cricket Series.

Zahid Cheema is back at the club that he represented until 2018, before joining Janjua Brescia last season and appearing at the European Cricket League, the Champions League of European Cricket. He sent stumps flying in La Manga and will be looking to create more carnage in this competition for Kingsgrove Milan.

Nimna Paththuwadura is a useful seam bowler who can also contribute some useful runs in the middle order. He isn’t afraid to have a go with the bat in hand so is perfectly suited for the T10 format.

Sami Ullah is a stylish batsman who is likely to bat in the middle order. He can be a bit of a slow starter, so won’t have the luxury of getting his eye in for too long in this shortest form of the game.

Team Preview for Padova

Padova CC is one of two cricket clubs based in Padova, a small city just west of Venice in Italy’s north. A strong Sri Lankan influence is evident in the club’s playing group and although they could only boast a 2-6 record in domestic T20s this season, they will be competitive. They will have to look outside their regular superstars, with three of their regular players unable to take the field this week in Rome.

Captain: Nuwan Sameera

Main Wicketkeeper: Nissanka Kuda

Key Players:

Nuwan Sameera will bear a lot of responsibility for the success of the team he leads this week in Rome. He will open the batting and the bowling for Padova, his experience being crucial if Padova are to progress beyond the group stage. He took 25 wickets in 2019 and will be looking to take key wickets early on innings to put his side in a winning position.

Damith Kosala is a very versatile young cricketer. At only 19 years of age, he can bowl left arm pace and bat in the top order, while covering the wicketkeeping duties if circumstances dictate. The European Cricket Series provides an enormous opportunity for him to display his talent to the cricketing world.

Akash Handun is another youngster to watch. He has a very unusual action which can be quite off-putting and effective, especially in this format of cricket. He can also provide some insurance, batting in the middle order.

Radika Suren is a very wily cricketer. His leg spin will be an attacking weapon and he has a handy knack of picking up the big wicket. Padova will look to him to provide the magic moment when the game is on the line.

Mr Maximo’s tip: KINGSGROVE MILAN

Kingsgrove Milan have been impressive in the lead-up to this series and I see them being too strong for a Padova side missing some of their key players in the final match of Monday’s schedule. This is T10 though and anything than happen! Find out if I’m right by tuning into the European Cricket Series in Rome from Monday, with all matches available on FanCode on the subcontinent or exclusive to Sports Flick in all other locations. With four fast-paced T10 matches every day this week, you won’t want to miss a minute of the action!