New Zealand U19 vs Ireland U19 Prediction: New Zealand are better on paper

New Zealand U19 and Ireland U19 are going head to head in the Super Six - Match 11 of ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, South Africa on 03 Feb 2024. New Zealand are the better team on paper and are expected to do well in this game. Who will win this game of cricket?

The New Zealand U19 team is entering this game following a series of consecutive losses. Their previous match in the competition was against the Indian U19 team, resulting in a significant defeat. In the match, the Indian team batted first and scored 295 runs in their fifty overs. On the other hand, the New Zealand U19 team was bowled out for 81 runs in the 29th over. Despite taking an early wicket, the Kiwi bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batting onslaught. Mason Clarke emerged as the best bowler for New Zealand, taking four wickets, although conceding 62 runs. Other bowlers such as Ryan Tsourgas, Ewald Schreuder, Zac Cummings, and Oliver Tewatiya each took one wicket. The New Zealand innings got off to a disastrous start and they never managed to recover from it. The highest scorer for New Zealand was Oscar Jackson with 19 runs. Although Sac Cummings and Alex Thompson displayed some determination towards the end, their efforts fell far short of what was needed.

Tom Jones, James Nelson, Snehith Reddy, Lachlan Stackpole, Oscar Jackson (c), Oliver Tewatiya, Zac Cumming, Alex Thompson (wk), Ewald Schreuder, Ryan Tsourgas, Mason Clarke

The fortunes of the Irish team have been even worse as they have suffered three consecutive losses. In their most recent match, they faced off against the Pakistan U19 team. Opting to bat first, the Ireland U19 team managed to score a total of 181 runs within their allotted overs. The Pakistan team successfully chased down the target in 43.4 overs, albeit losing seven wickets in the process. J McNally and Harry Dyer played pivotal roles in enabling the Ireland team to reach a respectable score. McNally contributed 53 runs from 81 balls, while Dyer scored 31 runs from 41 balls.

Despite the valiant efforts made by the Irish team to defend their target, Ahmad Hassan's impressive knock of 57 runs disrupted their aspirations. Among the Irish squad, the standout performer in the bowling department was Harry Dyer, who took four wickets, conceding 35 runs in 9.4 overs. He also displayed great economy, giving away only 35 runs throughout the match. Additionally, Reuben Wilson, Oliver Riley, and Jordan Neill each claimed a wicket. Unfortunately, the exceptional contributions from Harry Dyer and his teammates were insufficient to secure a victory for the Ireland team.

Jordan Neill, Ryan Hunter (wk), Gavin Roulston, Kian Hilton, Philippus le Roux (c), Scott MacBeth, John McNally, Harry Dyer, Carson McCullough, Oliver Riley, Reuben Wilson

The Mangaung Oval venue in Bloemfontein has witnessed a total of 33 one-day international games, with both the team batting first and second winning an equal number of matches. Therefore, there is little advantage in winning the toss.

The pitch at the Mangaung Oval in South Africa is well-balanced and offers support to both spinners and fast bowlers. However, it may be advantageous to bat first, as the ball will come onto the bat more easily. The average first inning score at this ground is 251 runs. On the day of the match, we anticipate overcast conditions with a temperature around 25 degrees. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

In terms of performance in this World Cup, the New Zealand U19 team has shown a superior overall record. Thus, they are expected to have an advantage in this contest. Our prediction is that the New Zealand boys will emerge victorious.