ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019: Third Place Play-off, Ireland vs Namibia, Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Match Details:

The Third Place Play-off of the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 between Ireland and Namibia will be hosted by Dubai International Stadium, Dubai.

The match starts at 2:10 PM local time (3:40 PM IST) (10:10 AM GMT). This game can be watched live on Star Sports 3 in India with live streaming available on Hotstar.

Preview:

After heartbreaking losses on Friday, Ireland and Namibia compete against one another in the third-place playoff on Saturday. While Ireland will be slightly disappointed for not making it to the final, Namibia has certainly punched above its weight in the tournament. Enroute to this third-place playoff, Namibia upset the likes of Oman and Scotland to make a mark on the tournament.

Both teams have lost three games each with Paul Stirling and Gerhard Erasmus leading with the bat in hand. While Stirling has scored 266 runs so far, Erasmus has put in stellar performances in the middle order on a consistent basis. Ireland and Namibia look evenly matched on paper although the Irish will be considered the favourites for this contest.

But one aspect they should be worried about is the depth in batting Namibia possesses with pinch hitters, JJ Smit and JP Kotze, capable of clearing the boundary with ease. A highly competitive game between the two sides is a given on Sunday which could prove to be the perfect appetizer for the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 Final later on Saturday.

Weather Condition/Report:

A clear day with no threat of rain awaits the two sides looking to finish in third place. While the temperature is expected to be around 28 degrees Celsius, the humidity of 56% could play a part in the game. Minimal cloud cover of 3% is expected at the start of the game, according to AccuWeather, with a breeze also on the forecast from one end.

Pitch Condition/Report:

The knockout matches at this venue have seen teams such as Scotland and Netherlands score heavily in spite of the faster bowlers getting help from the surface. Spin should come into play as the game progresses with the team winning the toss ideally looking to bat first and set a target.

Average first innings score: 147 (Seven ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 knockout games)

Record of chasing team: Won – 2, Lost – 5

Injury and Availability News:

(Will be added when there is an update)

Probable Playing XIs:

Ireland:

Paul Stirling,  Kevin O’Brien, Andrew Balbirnie,  Gareth Delany,  Lorcan Tucker,  Gary Wilson (C&WK),  Craig Young,  George Dockrell,  Shane Getkate,  Mark Adair and  Barry McCarthy

Bench: Stuart Thompson,  Boyd Rankin,  Simi Singh,  Harry Tector

Namibia:

Stephan Baard,  Niko Davin,  JP Kotze,  JJ Smit,  Craig Williams,  Gerhard Erasmus (C),  Zane Green (WK),  Christi Viljoen,  Pikky Ya France,  Bernard Scholtz and  Ben Shikongo

Bench: Zhivago Groenewald,  Jan Frylinck,  Karl Birkenstock,  Tangeni Lungameni

Top Picks:

Paul Stirling has 266 runs in just seven innings, which is only one run less than the tournament highest of 267 by Jatinder Singh. He looks to be in good touch and should boost Ireland’s chances of a win along with Gareth Delany. With a strike-rate of 155.32, Delany has 146 runs to his name in the Irish middle order.

Gerhard Erasmus has led Namibia well with both bat and ball. With 217 runs, Erasmus stands out in the Nambian middle order. Another such player is Bernard Scholtz, whose tally of 14 wickets at an average of just 9.57, makes him a dependable player for Namibia. These players should be picked in your Dream11 Fantasy side.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain – Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Gerhard Erasmus

Vice-Captain – JJ Smit, Gareth Delany, Bernard Scholtz

Suggested Playing XI for Head to Head/Small Leagues for Dream11 Fantasy:

Keeper – JP Kotze

Batsmen – Paul Stirling (C), Andy Balbirnie, Gerhard Erasmus, Stephan Baard

All-Rounders – JJ Smit (VC), Gareth Delany, Christi Viljoen

Bowlers – Mark Adair, Craig Young, Bernard Scholtz

Suggested Playing XI for Grand Leagues/Mega Leagues for Dream11 Fantasy:

Keeper – Gary Wilson

Batsmen – Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (C), Gerhard Erasmus, Niko Davin

All-Rounders – Gareth Delany, Craig Williams, JJ Smit

Bowlers – Craig Young, Barry McCarthy, Bernard Scholtz (VC)

Expert Advice:

Pacers have enjoyed conditions at the venue which makes Christi Viljoen and Mark Adair bankable options for this game.

Spin bowling all-rounders are also crucial with the pitch slowing down as the game goes on. Gareth Delany, who is available for 8.5 credits, fits the bill for the Dream11 Fantasy.

With the result of this game baring no consequences, a couple of changes are on the cards from either side.

Probable Winners:

Ireland is expected to win the encounter.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.