Sri Lanka vs Ireland, ICCWCT20 2021, Today Match Prediction 20 October 2021

sl vs ire Match Prediction & Analysis

ICC T20 World Cup 2021 is up and running with 8 teams fighting out for 4 spots in the super-12s alongside top-8 ranked teams. Ireland and Sri Lanka won their respective opening matches against Netherlands and Namibia respectively in the comfortable fashion. Now, both teams will have a chance to almost seal their place in the next stages if they manage to win this match. Sri Lanka is a a T20I world cup winner (2014) and two-time runners-up in the competition whereas Ireland have been in excellent form late winning all their warm-up games and their opening match comfortably against all opponents.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

Sri Lanka top-3 were dismissed for low scores at they were left reeling at 26/3 in 5 overs. Banuka Rajapaksa (42 runs) and Avishka Fernando (30 runs) shared an unbeaten 76-run partnership to take their team past the line. They have a strong batting line-up with players till No.8 capable of batting effectively.

Their bowling unit performed well as a pack as they dismissed the opposition for just 96 runs. Spin duo of M Theekasana and W Hasaranga had combined bowling figures of 8-0-49-5. Pace trio of Lahiru Kumara, Chameera, and Karunaratne bowled more probing lines and had combined figures of 11.3-0-45-4 in the match.

Top players to bet on:

Banukha Rajapaksa: Rajapaksa took on the bowlers to bring back their team in the chase with a 27-ball 42 runs. Their team will look for him to play in similar style in middle overs to disturb the opposition`s momentum with the ball.

Mahesh Theekshana: Theekshana is an exciting young spinner who can bowl a lot of variations. He had bowling figures of 4-0-25-3 in the last game. He dismissed both the opposition openers inside powerplay to set the match tone.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Pathum Nissanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanidu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne

Ireland Preview

Ireland chased down the small target of 107 runs with almost 5 overs remaining. Paul Stirling (33* runs) and Gareth Delany (44 runs) made a vital partnership of 59 runs after two quick wickets to complete the chase. Their batting line-up was hugely untested in this match with a small target.

Irish pacers Curtis Campher, Joshua Little, and Mark Adair demolished the opposition batting line-up with the combined bowling figures of 12-0-49-8 in the match. Spinners Simi Singh and Ben White played support act to the pacers with Paul Stirling chipping with economical overs. Their bowling was top notch last night as the opposition was bowled out for just 105 runs.

Top players to bet on:

Curtis Campher: Campher bowled brilliantly and claimed 4 wickets in 4 balls in the 10th over to bring the opposition middle order down from 51/2 to 51/6 in no time which turned the match in their favour.

Gareth Delany: Delany scored 44 runs off 29 balls with 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. He looked in great rhythm with the bat last night and expect him to make a big score in this match too.

Ireland Predicted Playing XI:

Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Neil Rock (wk), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Benjamin White, Joshua Little

Ireland Actual Playing XI:

Kevin O'Brien, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Craig Young, Curtis Campher, Joshua Little, Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Andy Balbirnie

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Abu Dhabi has a pleasant climate of early 30 degrees and cool breeze in the evenings. Dew might settle down in the night matches (7.30 PM start). We expect no weather interruptions in this match.

Venue Details

Abu Dhabi will be a dry surface with some purchase for the spinners especially. The ball might stop and come to the batters on this track. We expect the average scores to be around 140-160 runs in this match.

Toss: To Bowl

Chasing is the best option and chasing teams won both the matches played here so far. Teams ill need to post a 160+ target if they bat first on this venue.