After a few hectic weeks of red-ball cricket against England, Sri Lanka are ready to get back to winning ways when they take on Ireland in a two-match ODI series which starts on Thursday at Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin.
Sri Lanka will shudder at the thought of losing to an Associate nation but they are firm favourites to beat the hosts, who ended their World T20 campaign recently without a win in the qualifying round. Sri Lanka’s last ODI assignment was in 2015 when New Zealand got the better of the South Asian Islanders, beating them 3-1 in a 5 match ODI series.
History
These two teams have played only two 50-over matches against each other in the past with Sri Lanka winning comfortably on both occasions.
In their encounter at the ICC World Cup 2007, Farveez Maharoof, who is expected to make a comeback into the national team after 4 years, ran riot taking 4 wickets for 25 in a man-of-the-match winning performance.
In 2014, Ireland hosted Sri Lanka in a two-match series but the second match was abandoned due to rain. Ajantha Mendis and Suranga Lakmal were the stars for Sri Lanka when they restricted the hosts’ to only 140 defending 219.
Pitch and Weather
According to weather forecasts, persistent showers are expected on Thursday but the forecasts are positive for the 2nd ODI on Saturday with much warmer conditions expected. Only five ODIs have been played at this venue and the faster bowlers will get some purchase from the surface.
Sri Lanka
The bruised and battered Sri Lankans badly need a series win under their belts, even if it comes against an associate nation, before the five-match ODI series against England begins next Tuesday. The visitors have only 6 players who played the last ODI series and will surely miss the services of retired, Herath, injured Malinga and opted out, Dilshan.
Three experienced players, Tharanga, Maharoof and Randiv are eagerly waiting to wear the national colours again while four players, Mendis, Shanaka, Bandara and Dhananjaya will be looking to claim their maiden ODI caps.
The return of Kusal Janith will surely bolster the top-order but his opening partner has not been confirmed yet. Danushka Gunathilake is expected to make the cut with Tharanga hoping to make a comeback as a middle-order batsman, probably at No.6 which has been left vacant with the exclusion of Milinda Siriwardana. At least two players, Mendis and Shanaka are expected to earn their ODI debuts.
Full squad – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal (Vice-Captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilake, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya De Silva, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suraj Randiv, Dasun Shanaka, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Chaminda Bandara, Shaminda Eranga.
Ireland
The hosts could have up to eight survivors from the team that lost to Sri Lanka in 2014, but will be without leading batsman and wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien, who tore a calf muscle in a county game for Leicestershire last week.
The 6ft 8in pace bowler, Boyd Rankin last played an ODI game in England colours but will be the spearhead for Ireland this time around and he is expected to trouble the Lankans. All-rounder Kevin O’Brien, who is known to be a game-changer will be another man to watch out for.
Full squad – William Porterfield (Captain), George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, John Anderson, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Max Sorensen, Gary Wilson.
Final Say
If weather permits, Sri Lanka will have a good chance of claiming a series whitewash but the hosts will be keen to upset a full member nation in their bid to secure more games against top opposition.
