Ireland vs Zimbabwe 3rd ODI: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Having sealed the series already, Ireland will aim for a clean sweep against Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Sunday, 7 July. The hosts lead the three-match series 2-0 after having won the first two games by four wickets and five runs, respectively.

Andrew Balbirnie got a hundred in the first game and opener Paul Stirling has scored consecutive fifties. Together, they form the core of the Ireland batting and helped by James McCollum, who got a fifty of his own, and the senior batsmen William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien, Ireland have bettered the Zimbabwean batsmen.

Lorcan Tucker’s 51-ball 57 helped the hosts finish the innings in the last match and veteran Tim Murtagh got 5/25 to restrict Zimbabwe to 237/9 in reply to Ireland’s 242.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have suffered because of their batsmen. Craig Ervine has a century and a 43, Sean Williams and Ryan Burl have got the fifties as well, but their two most experienced batsmen – Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor – haven’t. Solomon Mire, the hard-hitting opener, needs to fire, too.

Mire has done well with the ball, though, picking up four wickets in the second game but the Ireland batsmen have been able to adapt to the conditions better and clinch two games with modest scores on the board.

Head to head
Ireland have bridged the gap in the head-to-head tally 5-6 by winning the last two matches. 

Key players

Andrew Balbirnie (Ireland): Balbirnie got a century in the first match and although he couldn’t replicate that performance in the second, he has looked in good touch and will look to take the initiative to accelerate scoring at the top of the order.

Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe): Ervine has come out as the best Zimbabwean batsmen on this tour. He already has a hundred and a 43 to his name and would try to contribute in a winning cause this time.

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

Zimbabwe get one back at Ireland and get their first win on this tour.