SL vs IRE 1st Test | Match Preview, Pitch Report, Predicted XIs, Fantasy Tips, & Prediction
Ireland made an impressive return to Test cricket in the one-off Test vs Bangladesh (Twitter)
Sri Lanka will face off against Ireland in the first Test of the two-match series on Sunday, April 16. The encounter is scheduled to take place at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.
Team Preview
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, captained by Dimuth Karunaratne, will aim to reclaim its dominant form at home, especially after a rather disheartening sojourn in New Zealand. Despite succumbing to a defeat against New Zealand in a multi-format series where they managed just a solitary win on the tour, the Lankans will aim to redeem themselves in front of their fervent supporters and claim victory against their Irish counterparts.
Sri Lanka's batting lineup, consisting of the likes of Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal, complemented by their formidable bowling attack, featuring the likes of Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, and Vishwa Fernado, is set to pose a formidable challenge to the visiting team.
Ireland
Meanwhile, Andrew Balbirnie's men from Ireland, who suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in their previous Test match, will be eager to regain their form and improve their game against spin as they gear up to take on the hosts in Sri Lanka.
With Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, and Lorcan Tucker showing promise in their previous outing, the Irish batting lineup will look to replicate their performance against Sri Lanka. The wily Andy McBrine, who wielded his spin wizardry with aplomb in the previous Test against Bangladesh, shall be eager to leave an indelible mark on the spin-conducive Galle pitch.
Match Details
Date & Time: 16th April, 10: AM IST
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Live Streaming and Broadcast: Sony LIV App & Sony Sports Network
Pitch Report
The Galle International Stadium is famous for its spin-friendly playing surface, which will present a challenging task for batsmen as the ball tends to grip off the surface. Therefore, the spinners are likely to have a significant impact on the match result. The captain winning the toss will look to bat first as the pitch will deteriorate with the game’s progression
Predicted Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Nishan Madushka (wk), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lasith Embuldeniya
Ireland: Murray Commins, James McCollum, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Harry Tector, Peter Moor, Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Benjamin White
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keepers: Kusal Mendis, Lorcan Tucker
Batters: Dimuth Karunaratne, Andy Balbirnie, Angelo Mathews
All-Rounders: Dhananjaya de Silva, Curtis Campher, Andy McBrine
Bowlers: Lasith Embuldeniya, Prabath Jayasuriya, Mark Adair
Captain: Prabath Jayasuriya
Vice-Captain: Andy McBrine
Prediction
Sri Lanka boasts a distinct advantage in the upcoming contest owing to their superior team composition on paper, comprehensive understanding of home conditions, and familiarity with the format, all of which makes them favourites to win the contest.
 "Jatin")
