Day 8 of the T20 World Cup promises another gripping triple-header as the fight for Super 8 qualification gathers pace. Ireland and Oman, both nursing two consecutive defeats, begin the day at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. With their campaigns on the line, the encounter shapes up as a virtual knockout, where only a win will keep their hopes alive.
The action then moves to Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where England look to bounce back in a crucial Group C clash against Scotland. After scraping past Nepal and then suffering a setback against West Indies, England will be eager to rediscover rhythm and momentum at a key stage of the tournament.
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The day wraps up in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where New Zealand and South Africa face off in a high-stakes Group D contest that could significantly boost the winner’s chances of progressing to the Super 8s.
When and where to watch
- Ireland vs Oman in Colombo in a Group B match at 11 am IST
- England vs Scotland in Kolkata in a Group C match at 3 pm IST
- New Zealand vs South Africa in Ahmedabad in a Group D match at 7 pm IST
All matches will be telecast on Star Sports, with livestreaming available on JioHotstar.
Here is a quick preview of the three games scheduled on Day 8 of the T20 World Cup.
MATCH 1 Prediction: Ireland vs Oman in Colombo
Ireland and Oman face off in a crucial Group B clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with both teams staring at elimination. After losing their opening two matches — Ireland to Sri Lanka and Australia, and Oman to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka — the equation is straightforward: win or exit. With the race for the Super 8s intensifying, this fixture has effectively become a do-or-die contest.
Ireland’s task has been made tougher by the loss of captain Paul Stirling, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with knee ligament damage sustained against Australia. The experienced opener’s absence is a significant blow to Ireland’s batting strength and leadership, particularly given his influence at the top of the order.
Uncapped 20-year-old left-handed batter Sam Topping has been named as his replacement, adding youthful promise but no international experience to the squad.
Historically, Ireland hold the edge in this head-to-head, winning four of their last six T20I meetings with Oman, including the last three in succession.
However, Oman will draw confidence from their ability to compete with and upset stronger sides in major tournaments, and they will be eager to turn around their campaign and secure their first win.
For Ireland, Stirling’s absence increases the responsibility on players such as Harry Tector, Mark Adair, Lorcan Tucker and Ross Adair to step up with both bat and ball. Oman, meanwhile, will rely on experienced names like Jatinder Singh, Mohammad Nadeem and Aamir Kaleem to deliver under pressure.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club has been sporting so far, with an average score of 154 across five games. In three of those matches, teams chasing have found it easier to bat, so the captain winning the toss may prefer to field first.
Conditions are expected to be cloudy, with no immediate threat of rain. Temperatures will hover around 29 degrees Celsius, and humidity levels are likely to be high.
Predicted Playing XIs
Ireland: Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys
Oman: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Sufyan Mehmood, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Jay Odedra
MATCH 2 Prediction: England vs Scotland in Kolkata
England and Scotland lock horns at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in a crucial Group C fixture that could shape the trajectory of both teams in the tournament. England have endured a mixed start to the competition, narrowly surviving a four-run scare against Nepal on a good batting surface. A composed final over from Sam Curran helped the two-time champions edge past a spirited Nepal side after being pushed to the brink.
That narrow escape was followed by a major setback, as England fell to a 30-run defeat against West Indies. Chasing 197, they were bowled out for 166, with the loss exposing frailties against spin and inconsistencies in their middle order. The performance underlined that England are yet to hit their stride and remain short of their best.
Scotland find themselves in a competitive position as well. After opening with a 35-run defeat to West Indies, where they were dismissed for 147, they bounced back in style with a commanding 73-run victory over Italy at the same venue. Posting 207 for 4, powered by an impressive 84 from George Munsey, the Scots demonstrated their ability to dominate with both bat and ball.
A win here would significantly strengthen Scotland’s chances of reaching the Super 8s and pile further pressure on England in a tightly contested group. With teams level on points, net run rate could prove decisive. Expect an intense battle as Scotland look to build on their momentum and England aim to rediscover their rhythm.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Kolkata has generally been a sporting one over the years, with an average first-innings score of 157 from 14 matches since 2011. However, teams batting first have held a slight edge, averaging 161 compared to 153 for sides batting second.
Chasing teams have already lost twice in the tournament, so opting to bat first could be the preferred strategy.
Conditions are expected to be favourable for cricket, with a mix of sun and cloud cover. There is no forecast of rain, and temperatures are likely to hover around 29 degrees Celsius.
Predicted Playing XIs
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Scotland: George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (wk), Mark Watt, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, Brad Wheal, Brad Currie
MATCH 3 Prediction: New Zealand vs South Africa in Ahmedabad
In what promises to be a marquee Group D clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, unbeaten New Zealand take on South Africa in a contest that could almost seal a Super 8 berth for the winner. Both teams have won their opening two matches.
New Zealand chased down Afghanistan before thumping the UAE by 10 wickets, while South Africa have showcased both power and resilience, highlighted by a dramatic double Super Over victory against Afghanistan.
New Zealand’s campaign, however, has suffered a setback with all-rounder Michael Bracewell ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a calf injury sustained during warm-ups ahead of the Afghanistan match. Experienced T20 campaigner Cole McConchie has been named as his replacement, adding depth and balance to the Black Caps’ squad.
South Africa’s win over Afghanistan was historic, becoming the first match in T20 World Cup history to be decided by a double Super Over. After both the regulation match and the first Super Over ended in ties, the Proteas held their nerve in a gripping finish to edge past their opponents.
Both sides sit comfortably in the top half of Group D, and a victory on Saturday would place the winner firmly on course for Super 8 qualification with a game to spare. New Zealand’s batting has been driven by strong top-order contributions from Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, while South Africa’s blend of explosive hitting and disciplined bowling has made them a dangerous outfit in pressure situations.
With net run rate and momentum also at stake, a closely fought contest is on the cards. Ahmedabad’s surface is expected to offer good bounce and carry, setting the stage for an engrossing battle between bat and ball in this crucial World Cup encounter.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium has been excellent for batting, with an average score of 184 from 10 matches. Teams batting first have won 7 of those 10 games, suggesting that setting a target and putting runs on the board could be the ideal approach.
There is no forecast of rain, with temperatures expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels will be comfortable, hovering in the mid-20s.
Predicted Playing XIs
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
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