Cricket One Day International Prediction

Ireland vs Bangladesh - Match Preview

🏏 9 May 2023 - 13:00 GMT +0

Nearly three years and more than 150 matches later, the first (and final) edition of the ill-fated ICC World Cup Super League will draw to a close in Chelmsford, Essex, with one more automatic qualification slot up for grabs for this year’s ODI World Cup. For Ireland, the equation is simple: they need a 3-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh, without any over-rate points deductions, which should allow them to leapfrog South Africa on Net Run Rate to finish eighth in the final standings.

Ireland’s cricket administration has moved this series abroad to England to take Irish weather out of the equation, which in May would have had a reasonably likely chance of denying them the three victories they need to avoid a skip to Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifier next month. With light showers forecasted for all three games, the move may not go to plan. It will be the first time they have “hosted” an ODI in England, less than one year after two T20Is in Bristol against South Africa for financial reasons, but the conditions will nonetheless still be a world away from Dhaka and Chattogram.

The Irish got themselves into a position to qualify with series wins against the West Indies and 1-1 draws with South Africa and Zimbabwe, whilst their recent tour of Bangladesh in which they lost the ODI series 2-0 was not a part of the Super League competition. That tour, which took place across all three formats, gave both squads a very intimate look at one another and some valuable experience. Josh Little, the first Irish bowler to play in the Indian Premier League, left India on Saturday to join a full-strength squad following his time with Gujarat Titans. Fellow bowler Craig Young also makes his return from injury in a squad that is otherwise quite similar to the one that toured Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is also pulling out all stops to spoil Ireland’s ambitions despite this series having no repercussions on their own World Cup plans, having qualified for the event via the Super League standings long ago. They will therefore be using this series as a formal preparation for October’s event in India, and will be spearheaded by Shakib Al Hasan, who withdrew from the IPL to dedicate himself to the national team. Litton Das and Mustafizur Rahman have temporarily departed for this series with intentions of returning, whilst fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is out injured and spinner Nasum Ahmed was replaced by Taijul Islam as a tactical change.

The tourists have the opportunity to finish as high as second on the table with a 3-0 clean sweep of their own, which would send an enormous message to the world that they’re

not to be treated as numbers in the upcoming World Cup. Whilst eight of their 13 Super League wins were earned at home, where they are now a formidable force, away series wins in both South Africa (2-1) and Zimbabwe (3-0) should demonstrate that they have the ability to play good cricket outside of Asia. Bangladesh have had little opportunity to adjust to these conditions with some training sessions and a practice match against Ireland Wolves in Cambridge washed out by bad weather.

Players to watch: Irish captain Andy Balbirnie put a dreadful few months behind him with two solid knocks in Ireland’s second Test in Sri Lanka and, after scores of 6 & 5 in the recent ODIs in Bangladesh, will be looking for revenge in more familiar conditions. But that’s no guarantee, either, after three single-digit scores in a home series against New Zealand last July!

⚡ Litton Das didn’t get as much time in the IPL as he’d have hoped, but having top scored in six of Bangladesh’s last 20 ODIs, he already has plenty of strong batting that should hold him in good stead. Litton’s first ODI innings in the UK was a glittering 94* against the West Indies at the 2019 World Cup.

📋 Stat attack: Chelmsford last hosted an ODI in the 1999 World Cup!

• Ireland lost six of their last seven completed ODIs against all opposition.
• Bangladesh last played ODIs in the UK/Europe in 2019, when they won seven of 12 matches including one against Ireland.
• Graham Hume dismissed Shakib Al Hasan twice from 12 balls bowled in the previous series.
• Hume has taken 11 wickets from his six ODIs in 2023 at an average of 22.36.
• Harry Tector is the only Irishman with two 50+ ODI scores in 2023 (179 runs at 59.67).
• Shakib Al Hasan has passed 50 eleven times (3x 100, 8x 50) from 24 ODI innings in the UK/Europe.