T20 World Cup 2022: Match 15 - Predicted Ireland Playing XI vs Sri Lanka

After performing well in the First Round of the  T20 World Cup 2022, team Ireland will take on Sri Lanka in their first Super 12 encounter to be played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on October 23 (Sunday). Ireland will back themselves to win against the Asia Cup champions as they are coming into the clash after defeating the two-time champions the West Indies.

Ireland lost their opening encounter of the competition against Zimbabwe and were on the verge of losing another match against Scotland, but Curtis Campher and Geroge Dockrell batted out of their skins and won a memorable game for them. 

Taking the confidence in the next game against the West Indies, the Irish players outclassed the Windies in all three departments and won the match pretty easily in the end with veteran Paul Stirling smashing a classy fifty. Team Ireland might not want to make any changes to their playing XI against Sri Lanka. 

Here's Ireland's predicted playing XI against Sri Lanka

Openers - Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c)

The opening pair of Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie took charge against the West Indies bowling line-up and smashed boundaries during the field restrictions. Balbirnie was more aggressive among the two as he took only 23 balls to smash 37 runs and hit three fours and three maximums. 

After the fall of Balbirnie, Stirling took over and batted extremely well for his unbeaten 66 run-knock which included six fours and two sixes. The opening pair will look to continue its good form with the bat against a strong Sri Lankan bowling line-up on Sunday. 

Middle-Order: Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, George Dockrell

Lorcan Tucker played a handy knock of 45 runs in just 35 balls as he stroked two fours and two sixes against the Windies. He formed an important partnership with Stirling and completed an easy chase against the West Indies to register a famous victory. Tucker will look to continue his good form in the upcoming game. 

Geroge Dockrell played a handy knock earlier against Scotland. He scored 39 runs in just 27 deliveries and hit four fours and one maximum. Tector also scored 14 runs in that game but he could not get going. He (Tector) can be very dangerous with the bat and will look to show his batting ability against Sri Lanka. 

All-rounders: Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany 

All-rounders have done their job for Ireland in the tournament so far. Curtis Campher was adjudged player of the match for his 72 runs against Scotland as he also took two wickets in just two overs. He only gave away nine runs in that match but could not repeat the same performance with the ball against the West Indies. 

Gareth Delany spun a web around the West Indies batters as he was adjudged Player of the Match in his last outing. He took three crucial wickets for his side and gave away only 16 runs in his four-over quota. He will want to continue his good form with the ball. 

Bowlers: Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, Barry McCarthy

Joshua Little and Mark Adair will have the responsibility to take wickets with the new ball against Sri Lanka. The two pacers have been an integral part of the Ireland team for a long time and have bowled several match-winning spells for the Irish side. When it comes to death bowling, Adair might be a better option than Little. 

Barry McCarthy took one wicket in the previous match against the West Indies, but he gave away 33 runs in his four-over quota. Meanwhile, Simi Singh bowled only two overs but scalped one wicket and spent just 11 runs. Both Singh and McCarthy will look to take crucial wickets for the Irish side in the middle overs of the match against.  

Ireland's probable playing XI against Sri Lanka: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little