Ireland vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

After a washout in the first game, both Ireland and Zimbabwe will vie for early advantage in the 3-match series in the second game on Friday, July 12 at Bready. Ireland won the ODI series 3-0 and will start as favourites to win this series as well.

Paul Stirling, James McCollum, Andy Balbirnie, William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien have scored runs at different junctures of the ODI series and will look to carry their form into the T20Is. 

With ball, Tim Murtagh has a five-wicket haul and a three-wicket haul on this tour and will look to provide his team early breakthroughs. He has Mark Adair, Shane Getkate and O’Brien for company.

Zimbabwe need to pull things together if they are to pick up their first win on this tour. Barring Craig Ervine, no other batsman has been able to score consistently. The senior batsmen – Sean Williams, Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor – have to step up. 

With ball, Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis and Christopher Mpofu form the core of the fast bowling lineup and Williams and Sikandar Raza can chip in with spin. They need to work as a unit to claw their way back in the series.

Head to head

Ireland and Zimbabwe have played only one T20I in the past – at the World T20 in 2014. Ireland won the match by 3 wickets.

Key players

Paul Stirling (Ireland): Stirling scored back-to-back half centuries in the ODI series and emerged as Ireland’s best batsman. He will look to build on the form he is in.

Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe): The only Zimbabwe batsman to score a century on this tour, Ervine, is the batsman Zimbabwe will rely heavily on. He needs to continue his good run.

Likely XIs

Ireland: Paul Stirling, James McCollum, Andrew Balbirnie, William Porterfield (c), Kevin O’Brien, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Shane Getkate, Mark Adair, Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, Andy McBrine.

Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (c), Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor (wk),  Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Ryan Burl, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara.

Prediction
Ireland beat Zimbabwe and take a 1-0 lead in the series.