Predicted Lineups | Match Prediction | Sri Lanka vs Ireland Match Preview

Predicted Lineups | Match Prediction | Sri Lanka vs Ireland Match Preview:

Contents

HEAD TO HEAD: WEATHER AND PITCH CONDITION:PLAYING XI (PROBABLE): PREDICTION:WHERE TO WATCH:

Both teams Ireland and Sri Lanka saved their places in the Super 12 round after an eventful first round. Sri Lanka ended the group stage round at the top of the table in group A, while Ireland was runner-up of group B.

As the Super 12 round has kick started, Ireland and Sri Lanka, being a part of the group A with teams like Australia, New Zealand and England, are due to play their first match of Super 12 round on Sunday.

Sri Lanka clinched the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan in the final earlier in the last month. Their first fixture against Namibia in group stages was a major upset for Shanaka-led men. The next two matches of the Lankan team, which followed the heartbreaking defeat, were although conquered by Sri Lanka, but their middle order failed to play an impressive role. Owing to the same reason the Asian champions’ last outing against Netherlands seemed for some time during the match to have slipped out of their hands.

The Irish have played more than 20 matches in this year alone and if anything, these matches have prepared them well for the marquee event. It was the first time after three World cups that the Ireland team made it past the group stage matches. In doing so, the Irish team defeated the two times T20 World cup champions, West Indies, out of the tourney.

Both Ireland and Sri Lanka were scheduled to play warm-up matches before the commencement of group stage matches, however, rain washed out the chances of both teams facing each other. Their encounter this time is set to be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. It is eminent to state here that Ireland have played all of their group stage matches at Bellerive Oval.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Sri Lanka and Ireland have met each other head-on only twice in T20Is. On both occasions, the Sri Lankans came out victorious.

WEATHER AND PITCH CONDITION:

With the La Niña event in place this year, many World cup matches are predicted to be affected by rain. Similar is the case with the match between Sri Lanka and Ireland in Hobart. As forecasted by the Bureau of Meteorology, there are 70% chances of rain in Hobart on 23rd October. Luckily, the amount of rainfall is only expected to be around 1mm.

The Bellerive Oval, like its compatriot grounds, favours batters more than bowlers. The ground has hosted 6 matches of the group stage. The outfield is quick and the side batting first can get advantage from the extra bouncy pitch.

Apart from the extra bounce, the bowlers will not be favoured by the pitch much. However, spinners and pacers can use variations to trap batsmen into smashing the ball towards mid-wicket and straight down the ground as both of these boundaries are bigger.

PLAYING XI (PROBABLE):

Ireland:Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (wk), Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara.

PREDICTION:

Although the Irish batsmen have been in good form, especially ever since they landed in Australia, the Asian champions will still be favourites for the match tomorrow.

Injuries have ruled out Sri Lanka’s Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka out of the match, the skipper Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, however, have the ability to carry the team easily on Hobart’s batting-friendly pitch.

Sri Lanka will surely miss the injured Dushmantha Chameera on Australian pitches but their spin combinations can help them to trap the Irish batsmen.