Sri Lanka’s first day setback in opposition to Namibia and Ireland’s large defeat to Zimbabwe now go a great distance up to now. Both groups received back-to-back video games, Sri Lanka regularly, and Ireland made a spectacular comeback, making it to the Super 12 stage of the World Cup.
Momentum has modified the course of each the groups, with each enjoying a poor recreation of their group and their match on Sunday, regardless of being heavy on-paper favorites of Lanka, must be a tricky combat.
Main Matches:
Sterling, Balbirnie vs Thekshana, Kumaras
After dropping to Dushmantha Chamira, Lahiru Kumara has deputed brilliantly for Sri Lanka, and Mahesh Thikshana’s prowess within the powerplays makes the staff highly effective sufficient to select up early wickets. But if Ireland’s innings in opposition to the West Indies is any indicator, they’re up in opposition to it.
Ireland’s highest run-scorer Paul Stirling performed himself within the opening powerplay with a match-winning innings to blow away the West Indies bowlers. His expertise, coupled with captain Andy Balbirnie’s aggression (he had 518 T20I runs at a strike charge of 132 this yr), is usually a mouthful for the Sri Lankans within the opening overs.
Hasiranga vs Middle Order
The Lankans’ heaviest bowling card of their group-stage video games at Geelong was Wanindu Hasiranga’s capability to curb runs within the center overs and decide up necessary middle-order wickets.
Ireland have expertise in Hobart, and totally different situations will not assist spinners that a lot, however regardless, their center order will probably be cautious of taking over Hasiranga. Curtis Camper has been essential within the center overs for the Irish – his 72 off 32 balls in opposition to Scotland is the rationale he has made it to the Super 12 – and he often holds his personal in opposition to spin. This matchup may very effectively change the result of the match.
Mendis vs Little, Adair
Kusal Mendis had doubts coming into the World Cup however his match-winning 79 off 44 balls of their match in opposition to the Netherlands would have put these doubts to relaxation. Sri Lankan gamers have relied on Mendis’ opening runs extra usually in crunch video games, and Ireland pacers Josh Little and Mark Adair – who’ve made their bowling debuts in every of their group matches – can have a major job: getting Mendis off. Doing .
six-lust
Six-hitting isn’t any simple job in Australia this yr, however of their 3 matches within the group stage, Ireland have crossed the ropes 14 occasions, half of which have come in opposition to simply the Windies. Sri Lanka have hit 12 sixes of their three matches within the group stage.
latest look
Despite having related tempo, each groups have been in polar reverse kind earlier than the group phases, profitable their final two video games to qualify for the Super12. Sri Lanka had received 6 consecutive T20Is and received the Asia Cup. Ireland, however, had received solely 3 of their final 10 T20Is.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
