🏏ICC Men's T20I WC 2022 - Super 12 - Group 1 - SL vs IRE🏏 - Page 3

thank you Raji for the tag 😊

Hello, it is time to wrap up the first set of matches in Group 1 with Ireland v Sri Lanka at Hobart today. Both teams have qualified out of the first round - both not very convincing, but both doing enough to importantly get over the line from their respective cut-throat groups.

But now that they're here, it is time to reset and try to surprise a few other cricket fans around the world. Sri Lanka will start off as favourites, who seem to have found their footing after a shock loss in their opening game of the competition, however Ireland will be quietly confident of a positive show after their rousing victories and also because Hobart, today's venue, has been their backyard at the World Cup so far.

Thank you for tag Raji…🤗

Uff seems like I will miss watching the whole T20 World Cup as I will be sleeping like kumbhakarna all matches are scheduled during the 2-3 am 🤪 😆

Andy Balbirnie: We're going to bat first today. It is a wicket we have played on before, so we'll try to get as many runs as possible. Last week was high pressure cricket for all of us, and to come through it is amazing. They have some world class spinners, we've got to counter that. We've got to play Afghanistan recently, so that should help us. We've got to be at our best to beat Sri Lanka. No changes for us.

Ireland have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

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

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

Dasun Shanaka: Nissanka is struggling with a groin injury, so we rest him for this game. The boundaries on the side are shorter, and straight ones are over 80 metres. So that's going to be something to keep in mind.

Pitch Report: The surface seems to be true, it is a solid track. Sri Lanka would want to bat first. There will be a bit of bounce and spin, maybe 160 would be par. The game within the game would be how the teams play against the shorter boundary with the breeze, says Dirk Nannes.

T20I seems to be the format most suited for a side like the Irish. They have some fearsome strikers of the ball in their side, with the veteran Paul Stirling leading the line alongside some rising stars like Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker. If one of their players gets going, they can be a very difficult juggernaut to stop. The Irish also have the advantage of having played at the Bellerive Oval before. We should have a tight contest,

It’s Super Sunday at the 2022 T20I World Cup, and while the hype may be around the evening game in Melbourne between India and Pakistan, we should be in for a cracker at Hobart as well where Sri Lanka take on Ireland. The Asia Cup champions booked their tickets to Hobart the hard way, surviving a scare in the qualifiers after losing to Namibia. Things have now begun to click for this Sri Lankan team, and they have the experience with players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and skipper Dasun Shanaka to get the better of a team like Ireland.

IRE 2/1 (1.1)

CRR: 1.71

Ireland opted to bat

Kumara to Balbirnie, out Bowled!! Knocked over!! Too audacious and too early from Balbirnie, and he pays the price. Full and straight from Lahiru Kumara, Balbirnie attempted a ramp over short fine after shuffling closer. He exposed all his stumps in the process and it was target practice then for Kumara who is too good for the Irish captain. Balbirnie b Kumara 1(5)