ABOUT THE MATCH
After rain ruined their opening fixture, Ireland will actually be the final team to get their Tri-Nation Series underway at Malahide. The game against Scotland will take place on September 17.
After being frustrated by the rain last time out, Ireland will bid to continue building towards the World T20 Qualifier against an in-form Scotland team who beat them when they last met.
Scotland had Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey to thank for that win in Oman and their opening pair were in blistering form last time out against the Netherlands. A 200-run opening partnership in 15 balls set the tone as they eventually posted 252/3 and went on to win by 58 runs.
TOSS PREDICTION
PITCH AND CONDITIONS
Irish fans will be relieved to see a weather forecast that gives a very minimal chance of rain. Instead, they can expect clear, sunny conditions albeit still cool at little more than 14 degrees Celsius.
Malahide is generally a balanced wicket but there have been big scores in the past and last time out was no different as Scotland went ballistic.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Ireland
Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien, Gary Wilson (c, wk), Andrew Balbirnie, Stuart Thompson, Mark Adair, Shane Getkate, David Delany, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Jacob Mulder
PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Scotland
George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer (c), Matthew Cross (wk), Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington, Ollie Hairs, Michael Leask, Adrian Neill, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Alasdair Evans
MATCH PREVIEW
Ireland
- Ireland was looking to use this tournament to make a final choice on their squad for the UAE and so time is against them now.
- Uncapped Harry Tector is looking for his first appearance, while there have been returns for Jacob Mulder and Gareth Delany.
- Since ending the Oman Quadrangular T20i series with defeat to Scotland, Ireland has suffered three defeats from three against Afghanistan and then drew with Zimbabwe.
- Mark Adair and Paul Stirling starred with bat and ball as they won a shortened 13-over game against Zimbabwe but they then lost the second match by eight wickets.
- Their only scheduled match since – the opening game of this tournament fell victim to the rain.
Scotland
- Recalled Ollie Hairs played in the last game but did not bat watching the final two balls from the non-striker’s end.
- He is likely to get another chance as a result.
- The other selection issue was behind the stumps, with Craig Wallace taking the gloves in place of Matthew Cross.
- Cross will be pushing for a recall. Scotland started this Tri-Series in stunning batting form against the Netherlands, as George Munsey (127*) and Kyle Coetzer (89) combined to post a 200-run opening partnership and help Scotland to 252/3.
- Alasdair Evans then took 2-19 from four overs to ensure the Dutch got nowhere near the target in reply.
- They previously won the Oman Quadrangular Series and the most recent Tri-Series between these three European nations too.
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
Ireland, as hosts, might be favorites for this one but Scotland was in top batting from last time out and it was from two players who have proved this is no flash in the pan too.
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