Ireland’s last-ditch attempt to snatch the eighth spot on the Cricket World Cup Super League gets underway in Essex this week.
Ireland vs Bangladesh | First ODI | Tuesday 9 May 2023 | The County Ground, Chelmsford
Ireland 7/4 | Bangladesh 4/9
The likes of Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector and Curtis Campher give Ireland a realistic shot at achieving big totals.
The experienced Andrew Balbirnie leads the side and is likely to open the batting alongside bruiser Paul Stirling.
Ireland will lean on a pace attack with plenty of county experience and the right sort of pace to be tricky at Chelmsford.
Allrounders George Dockrell and Gareth Delaney provide the only spin options and might be used sparingly at the small County Ground.
Bangladesh will be without experienced fast bowler Taskin Ahmed in this series but have plenty of old hands.
Ahmed is replaced by fellow left-arm quick Mrittunjoy Chowdhury who joins Hasan Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman in stocking the pace ranks.
Bangladesh can move above India on the Super League table if they win at least one match in this series.
They are already through to the tournament themselves but have named a very strong squad.
Verdict: Bangladesh
Bangladesh should have enough to beat Ireland.
