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World T20 2021: It's Ireland bowlers vs Sri Lanka batters as both teams aim to capitalise on positive start

With a win apiece under their belt, Sri Lanka and Ireland will be up against each other in Abu Dhabi. Ireland’s Curtis Campher was on song as he scalped four wickets on four consecutive deliveries against the Netherlands as the Irish team bundled out their opponents for just 106 in 20 overs. Later, they did lose three wickets but went over the line quite comfortably by 7 wickets and in 15.1 overs. 

On the other side, the Lankan bowlers thoroughly dominated the Namibia batting unit and bowled them out for 96 in less than 20 overs. But the Dasun Shanaka-led side had some early hiccups after they were reduced to 26/3. Nevertheless, Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa made sure that they anchor the side to a win eventually. Sri Lanka clinched a victory by 7 wickets. 

The one thing that the Sri Lankan team management would need to fix is the start with the bat. The Asian side did struggle to get a decent start despite chasing a low total especially with the likes of Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal in the top order. 

Match Details 

SL vs IRE, 8th Match, Group A, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021

Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Time: 7:30 PM

Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Pitch Report

The track in Abu Dhabi is likely to assist the batsmen throughout the game but spinners can still have some advantage in the middle overs. Another major factor can be the occurrence of dew as it is an evening fixture. So, if you win the toss, elect to field as the bowling unit of both the sides unleashed some brilliance in their last respective matches. 

Ireland’s equipped bowling unit

Curtis Campher’s hat trick and four-fer against the Netherlands grabbed all the attention. But apart from Campher’s performance, Mark Adair and Joshua Little were also the pick of the bowlers after the way they kept the batters on the back foot. While Adair returned with figures of 3/9 in 4 overs, Little picked up one wicket for 14 runs in four overs. Paul Stirling bowled just one over but he was economical too as he only gave one run during the course. 

So, with a bowling attack of this kind and considering the way Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen fared in their last encounter, they might face some difficulties to gather runs. 

Sri Lanka’s top order woes

A cricket fan would expect a team of Sri Lanka’s calibre to chase down a target of 97 runs by 10 wickets in a T20I. But their top order which has experienced lads like Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal in the ranks completely failed to fire against Netherlands. 

There came a stage when the Lankan lions were struggling at 26/3 but thanks to Fernando and Rajapaksa, they eventually won the game. 

But the problems and issues haven’t been sorted yet. The kind of bowling attack that Ireland possess is lethal in slowing down the scoring rate at any given situation. So, Sri Lanka would need to get a decent and steady start to prevent themselves for getting under pressure. 

Probable XI

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

Ireland: 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

CE Fantasy XI

Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling, Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Simi Singh, Curtis Campher (VC), Dushmantha Chameera, Joshua Little, Maheesh Theekshana 

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After losing their first games badly, Dutch and Eagles fight it out for survival

It wasn’t an ideal start for the Netherlands team which is supposed to be playing with its golden generation of cricketers in this year’s World T20 2021. They were rolled over for 106 while batting and then in bowling didn’t get enough wickets either as Ireland chased down the total with more than 30 balls remaining. This meant that it wasn’t just a loss but a loss so big that their net run rate took a big blow and now they are not only dependent upon themselves to win the next two games, but would hope that either Sri Lanka and Ireland lose one match very badly. Namibia on the other hand had too much to do in terms of tackling the seasoned Sri Lankan bowlers and that resulted in them being bowled out for a meagre 96. And although the Sri Lankans lost their first three wickets quickie with none among the top three getting into double figures, Avishka Fernando and Bahnauka Rajapaksa made sure that the match was finished in only the 14th over without the islanders losing any more wicket. Courtesy of that defeat, the Eagles are very low down the barrel in terms of the net run rate as well. Thus a battle between these two sides is not only of victory but both the teams would look to win big to keep their hopes of qualifications alive. This is Namibia’s best chance of winning a World Cup game with the team that they have got. The last time they were in a World Cup, they lost all their six games in 2003. On the other hand, Netherlands have won before, even been to the next stage in previous editions, but this time around, they had come with their best possible 15 members and were looking to make it count. But the first game would have done massive damage to those goals. Still, the Dutch would like to believe that they can go ahead from here and still believe in that dream of chasing glory with their golden generation. However, they would have to make some changes in the playing XI, especially bringing in Stephen Myburgh, Timm van der Gugten and Paul van Meekeren, the experienced trio in place of Bass de Leede, Brandon Glover and most probably wither Fred Klaasen or Colin Ackermann. Namibia vs Netherlands: Match Details Match Number - 07 Date and Time - October 20, 2021, 03:30 pm IST, 02:00 pm Local, 10:00 am GMT Venue -Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Broadcast and Livestream - Star Sports Network and Hotstar Pitch Report As far as the evidence from the first day of the tournament is concerned, the wicket at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi looked good for batting even as the odd ball did stop and kept low a bit. However, the batting by Sri Lankan and Irish batters showed that the pitch could have been trusted. Weather Forecast With plenty of sunshine and no chances of rain or any other disturbance in the offing, this day game wouldn’t have anything depending on the weather. Probable XI Namibia Stephan Baard, Zane Green (wk), Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus (c), David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Pikky Ya France, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz Netherlands Max O’Dowd, Ben Cooper, Stephan Myburgh, Ryan ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Pieter Seelaar (c), Timm van der Gugten, Logan van Beek, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren CE XI Fantasy team Wicketkeeper Scott Edwards Batters Max O’Dowd, Ben Cooper, Gerhard Erasmus All-rounders Pieter Seelaar, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck Bowlers Timm van der Gugten, Logan van Beek, Bernard Scholtz Vice-Captain JJ Smit Captain Max O’Dowd

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