Ireland
Scotland
The two neighbouring countries, Ireland and Scotland, will be up against each other in their ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers match. This is going to be Ireland’s second match in the tournament after playing one with Oman, whereas this match will be the first for Scotland in this tournament. Ireland and Scotland are part of Group B, with Sri Lanka, Oman, and the UAE as the other teams.
Ireland, who recently lost a test match against England, are the absolute favourites to win this tournament alongside Sri Lanka and the West Indies and be one of the two teams that qualify for the World Cup this year. They would want to give their all and stand a chance to play in the big tournament. Scotland is a team that is still in the growing phase and is learning to compete at the international level. The top bookmakers in India have odds for WC qualifiers with them.
The match is going to be a cracker, as none of these teams is expected to shy away from the battle; instead, they will give their all in each and every match of this tournament. Below are the match predictions and probable lineups for the upcoming Ireland vs. Scotland World Cup Qualifiers match in the Queens Sports Club Stadium, Bulawayo.
IrelandScotlandIreland boasts a formidable cricket team that exhibits both skill and competitiveness. Over the years, they have consistently posed a challenge to stronger opponents. As they strategize for upcoming matches, crucial decisions regarding their bowling options will arise, including choosing between talents like Andy McBrine or Gareth Delany, Craig Young or Fionn Hand, and Curtis Campher or Graham Hume.
The selection process will require careful consideration to optimize the team's performance and maintain its competitive edge on the field.
Predicted Lineup: Peter Moor, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, and Joshua Little
With a wealth of all-rounders in their squad, the Scottish team enjoys the luxury of abundant bowling options in their lineup. This advantage simplifies the task of selecting their playing XI. However, captain Richie Berrington still faces the challenge of determining the ideal bowling combination and which bowlers to entrust. These considerations require careful thought and assessment to ensure the team's success in both the bowling and wicketkeeping departments.
Choosing a wicketkeeper proves to be a significant task, as the team has yet to find a reliable performer behind the stumps.
Predicted Lineup: Matthew Cross (wk), Kyle Coetzer, George Munsey, Richie Berrington (c), Brandon McMullen, Michael Leask, Jack Jarvis, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Chris Greaves, and Chris Sole
Ireland are coming off two out of two wins from their warm-up matches, whereas Scotland lost both their warm-up matches. There is clearly a difference between the standard of cricket played by Ireland and Scotland, but anything can happen in cricket till the last ball, and it is a crime to rule a team out even before the match is played.
The match is going to be an absolute thriller, as both teams want to go to the World Cup and will give their all on the field. The Irish hold the upper hand, though, being the experienced side and a test-playing nation as well.
