Ireland begin their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a tricky assignment against joint-hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides face off in the heat and humidity of Colombo, where conditions are often suited to spin bowling.
This makes the task at hand for Ireland even more difficult, but the team has pulled off major shocks at ICC tournaments in the past.
And with matches against Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe to come, a statement win in Colombo would go a long way to securing a spot in the Super 8 stage.
Check out our full Sri Lanka vs Ireland preview below, and we have picked out a few betting tips based on the latest cricket odds available on NetBet.
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Preview
Sri Lanka have not exactly had the best preparation for this tournament, losing 3-0 in the warmup series vs England in Kandy.
The Lions’ bowling contingent performed fairly well in those matches, but the batting was a procession of middle-order collapses.
If Sri Lanka are to go far in the tournament, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka need to provide better support from No4 and No5 to help the settled top three of Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis.
But if the pair do find form and deliver the necessary runs, the bowlers can wreak havoc.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are two of the best short-form spinners in the business, while Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana provide quality and variance in the seam department.
Of course, the Irish will be well aware of the quality posed by Sri Lanka, with so many of their players starring in franchise leagues around the world – including the IPL.
However, Ireland also boast some players to be feared. Captain Paul Stirling is a bonafide T20 legend, while Harry Tector is superb technically and plays spin very well – traits which are crucial in the subcontinent.
And seamer Josh Little is still a force to be reckoned with. The left-armer is lethal with the new ball and generates high speeds, hence why he is the only Irish representative to play in the IPL.
If Little can blow away Sri Lanka’s top order and expose the weaknesses in the middle, Ireland’s chances of victory increase significantly.
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Odds
*All odds are subject to change
With home advantage and the aforementioned strength of the spin department, Sri Lanka are huge favourites for the win at a price of 1.11. A victory for Ireland is at long odds of 7.70.
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Betting Tips
Ireland top batter – Paul Stirling @ 4.00
There are few players more experienced on the T20I stage than Stirling, an aggressive batter who has the nous to take down any bowling attack. He has played 161 matches, tallying 3,888 runs and playing a plethora of match-winning knocks. Stirling will look to free his arms in the powerplay, which could see boundaries flow early on in Ireland’s innings.
Sri Lanka top bowler – Wanindu Hasaranga @ 2.87
Hasaranga’s record at T20 World Cups is absolutely ludicrous. The Sri Lankan spinner, who is also pretty handy with the willow, has taken 37 wickets – the fourth-most in history – in 11 matches. Hasaranga averages just 11.72 with the ball on the World Cup stage, with an eye-catching economy rate of 6.00. In home conditions, expect him to shine once again.
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