Big picture – A win will take Zimbabwe into Super Eights
If those very specific set of circumstances – including Australia beating Oman – occur, then Australia, Zimbabwe and Ireland could all end on four points each, separated solely by net run-rate.
But that might be getting ahead of ourselves. Zimbabwe simply need to win against Ireland to end all speculation, and considering they’re coming off a stunning 23-run victory over Australia, it would take a brave person to back against them.
Lending more unpredictability to this game is that the historical rivalry is remarkably balanced, with both sides having won eight apiece of their 18 T20I meetings.
Form guide
Ireland WLLWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Zimbabwe WWLLW
In the spotlight – seamers from both teams
With the extra bounce on offer, the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is one of the rare Sri Lanka grounds where more wickets have fallen to seam (201) than spin (154). It would be no surprise if seamers from both teams prove to be the difference on Tuesday.
Team news – Ngarava likely to return for Zimbabwe
Ireland are unlikely to change a winning combination after their exploits against Oman.
Ireland (probable XI): 1 Tim Tector, 2 Ross Adair, 3 Harry Tector, 4 Lorcan Tucker (capt & wk), 5 Curtis Campher, 6 George Dockrell, 7 Gareth Delany, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Josh Little 10 Barry McCarthy, 11 Matthew Humphreys
Zimbabwe would have had a close eye on the pitch Sri Lanka played Australia on, but the only expected change is the return of Richard Ngarava who missed out last time as a precaution.
Zimbabwe (probable XI): 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 3 Dion Myers, 4 Sikandar Raza (capt), 5 Ryan Burl, 6 Tashinga Musekiwa, 7 Brad Evans, 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Graeme Cremer, 10 Blessing Muzarabani 11 Richard Ngarava
Pitch and conditions
Rain has threatened right throughout this tournament, but that threat is yet to manifest. The forecast for Tuesday is familiarly dicey, with some showers possible in the morning and evening. As for the pitch, Mark Adair labelled it “Sri Lanka’s best wicket” and in terms of contest between bat and ball, you’d be hard-pressed to argue. It will however be a used track, with Australia and Sri Lanka having played on it the night prior.
Stats and trivia
- Ngarava’s 15 wickets is the second-most by any seamer against Ireland in T20Is, behind Paul van Meekeren’s 18
- Only Rashid Khan (34) and Mustafizur Rahman (27) have more T20I wickets against Zimbabwe than Mark Adair (24)
- Sikandar Raza needs 87 more to become the first Zimbabwean to reach 3,000 runs in T20Is
Quotes
“The beauty of these ICC events are that every game you practically feel is a knockout game. And I think it’s great for our own mental toughness and growth as well, how well we handle our own expectations rather than what the world wants from us. The biggest challenge is to try and stay with the present and just not get too excited with what lies ahead.”
Sikandar Raza is reveling in the pressure
“I think whenever we’re away from home, our schedules are always pretty tight – but it’s fine we’re in Colombo each time. We had three games in Colombo, so it was same hotel two different grounds, which is fine. It’d be different if we were flying around India or having to drive to Kandy and play straight away. But we’ve done this once, so I don’t think it’s too bad.”
Mark Adair on the challenges of the tournament schedule