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So that will be all from our coverage of this contest. There are two more games left in the day though in the round-robin stage of Group B at the ECC 2023. Do switch tabs and follow our coverage of it all right here on Sportskeeda while also keeping yourselves updated with further cricketing news and action from around the world on this very platform. For the moment though, this is the duo of Soumarya Dutta and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning in today. Take care and have a great weekend. Good night!
Match Summary: Bulgaria beat Croatia by 9 wickets.
Omar Rasool 33* (14) | Huzaif Yousuf 1/10 (2) Amar Maheshwari 45 (25) | Jared Newton 1/22 (1.4)
An absolute breeze in the park for Bulgaria! It's not something we've been accustomed to saying this season but at long last, they've managed to turn in a dominant display that not only gives them their first points on the board but also gives them a huge bout of confidence should they proceed into the knockouts tomorrow.
A target of 93 is what they had to chase on the back of a largely tidy bowling display. Openers Omar Rasool and Zain Asif were intent on finishing the job by themselves and were probably in the midst of a contest between themselves. They went about ransacking runs for fun in the powerplay, dealing in fours and sixes alone and dishing out a hammering to the Croatian bowlers. Rasool was dropped in the first over and that spelled instant doom for Croatia as they had absolutely no way back.
53 runs were whipped up in the first three overs and in essence, the game was done and dusted for all practical purposes. Skipper Jared Newton did remove Asif for a breezy 33 and while one might have reckoned it just left the door slightly ajar for Croatia to claw back, Zaid Soulat rendered it moot in typically aggressive fashion as he pulverized the bowlers himself. He had the final say in the contest as he and Rasool got the job done with 20 deliveries to spare.
This result not only takes Bulgaria a step closer towards securing a spot in the knockouts but it also leaves Croatia's hopes hanging by a thread. They have to get past Jersey now and by a big margin at that to pip Bulgaria and take the fourth spot on the table. That's going to be far easier said than done though given the contrasting fortunes of both Jersey and Croatia!
And that's how you seal it with a stamp of authority! This has been one outrageously good chase from Bulgaria and they have finally managed to get on the board, putting a lot of pressure now on Croatia ahead of their last round-robin fixture.
6.0
5.4 Jared Newton to Omar Rasool, SIX! GAME! SET! MATCH! It was short and at the stumps and Rasool swiveled on his feet but managed to cut it hard over the point region for a MAXIMO to end the game. Bulgaria win by 9 wickets!
5.3 Jared Newton to Zaid Soulat, this one has been played into the off side for a single.
5.2 Jared Newton to Zaid Soulat, FOUR! It was in the slot and it has been hit down the ground by Soulat in his unorthodox manner for another boundary,
5.1 Jared Newton to Omar Rasool, fuller and on off stump and Rasool hits it through the long off region for a single.
5.1 Jared Newton to Omar Rasool, No ball has been called as Newton hit the bails on the way during his run up.
A contest, did we say? Nope. None of the kind. Just the final formalities remain in Cartama with Bulgaria dishing out a hammering and then some here. Bulgaria require 12 runs to win off 30 deliveries at 2.40 RPO.
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Cartama Oval
