Sri Lanka vs Ireland Prediction: Inexperienced Irish outfit takes on much more experienced Lankans

Test Cricket is the epitome of resilience and we have to work out a thorough picture to understand this landscape. Times are changing, and teams can adopt a heavy-hitting approach(so-called Bazball) rather than ticking through and spending a ton of time on the crease, but there are many instances when a team has to slow it down. In this test match, inexperienced Ireland takes on more well-versed Sri Lanka.

In the first innings of the first test, the Lankans piled a lot of pain on Irish bowling and racked up 591 for 6, declaring the innings in the second half of Day 2. Scoring at 4.51 runs per over. For the Lankans, four players made centuries; skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made 179, Kusal Mendis made 140, Sadeera Samarwickrama made 104 and Dinesh Chandimal made 102. The second-wicket partnership of 281 was the highest of the match. Curtis Campher took two wickets to lead the otherwise dry wickets tally and the Lankans completely blunted the bowling unit.

In their first innings, the Irish team was bundled out for 143, and seven players scored in single figures. Lorcan Tucker played an impressive 45 runs to lead the way whereas James McCollum had 35 and Harry Tector had 34. Trailing by 448 and following on, things looked bleak for Ireland and they were bowled out for just 168. Harry Tector led the way with 42 runs, George Dockrell made 32 runs and Curtis Campher scooped up 30 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya's spin bowling was too much for Ireland and after claiming seven wickets in the first innings, he nabbed three in the second innings. Ramesh Mendis had four wickets in the second innings.

ICC’s test plan for Associate nations has no backbone and the criticism they have received for it is warranted. The performances of the Ireland team don’t do justice to them because they play once in a blue moon and their players barely have any First Class experience and that has shown in their results thus far. That is why these one or two odd tests barely serve any big purpose. Anyway, I back Sri Lanka to win big.