England vs Ireland 2nd T20I Match Preview: Can Ireland Stop the English Firepower?

The 1st T20I between England and Ireland proved to be a belter. It was a run-fest in which both teams enjoyed batting on a good surface. Ireland put on a strong show in the 1st innings, but England also came out with all guns blazing. The visitors won the match by 4 wickets, courtesy of Phil Salt onslaught. It was a thrilling match to watch, as fans saw furious power hitting from both teams.

A similar kind of show could be expected in the 2nd T20I as well. Ireland would be looking to bounce back in the second game, as it is a must-win match for them. England, on the other hand, will try to win the match and seal the series. Their power hitters are in full form, hence we could expect a similar type of fireworks from them in the 2nd T20I at Dublin.

Keeping aside batting, there are some areas of improvement as well for both teams. The Irish team needs to work on its bowling if they want to stop the English firepower. They didn’t enjoy much in the 1st T20I, as the onslaught of Phil Salt took away the game from them. He is a kind of batter who is very difficult to stop once he gets into the groove. Ireland has to chalk out a plan to get rid of Salt at the start of the innings. If they fail to do so, their hopes to remain alive in the series will fade away.

There are many other areas as well that need to be addressed by both teams. Let’s first take a quick recap of the previous match, and then we will discuss the squads, tactics, and predictions for the 2nd T20I between England and Ireland.

A Quick Recap of the 1st T20I Between England and Ireland         

The first game of the series was completely dedicated to batters. Players from both sides enjoyed the conditions, as it was tailor-made for T20 batting. The home team batted first on the pitch that made things pretty much clear. Paul Stirling and Ross Adair started off well by smashing English bowlers during the Powerplay.

It was still a decent period for English bowlers until Harry Tector arrived at the crease. He is known to be a batter who loves to take on bowlers regardless of their big names. The Irish batter made his presence felt by smashing English bowlers all around the park, making 61 off just 36 balls.

Alongside Harry, Lorcan Tucker also played a great hand. He used the conditions properly by scoring a quick 55 off 36 balls. Due to the fearless batting of this duo, Ireland were able to post 196 on the board.

The home team thought it would be enough to win the game, but English batters had other ideas in mind. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler came out with all guns blazing. They took down the inexperienced Irish bowlers in the Powerplay, making sure to get a strong start.

After laying a strong foundation with Jos Buttler, Phil Salt changed the gears and went on overdrive. He showcased the same class of furious batting that was earlier displayed during the South Africa T20I series. The opening batter then didn’t stop and kept on hitting Irish bowlers, as the surface was tailor-made for batting.

In the end, England won the match by 4 wickets. They chased down the big Ireland total within 18 overs. This was a statement win that can now be seen as a template for the 2nd T20I as well.

What to Expect in the 2nd T20I Between England and Ireland?

The second game between England and Ireland also promises to be a good one. It is a must-win contest for the Irish team, as losing it will mean another defeat against England on home soil. The home team will therefore be under a bit of pressure, but they do know how to overcome it.

The Ireland team has some notable names that could change the game quickly. Traditionally, they have been strong in batting, so it will play a decisive role for them in the 2nd T20I. Their star batter and captain, Paul Stirling, has to produce something magical in Dublin. The middle order would once again need to take the game to the deep, so that a formidable total could be posted or chased accordingly.

As far as England, they go into the 2nd T20I as favorites. They would look to seal the series in the second game, which also promises to be a batting fest. The visitors, however, need to take a look at their bowling department. They took a heavy beating in the first game, courtesy of some fabulous hitting by Harry Tector.

The team that will bowl well in the batting-friendly conditions would take the win. It is indeed a difficult job, but will play a key role in deciding the ultimate winner.

England Squad for the 2nd T20I Against Ireland

• Jacob Bethell (c)
• Rehan Ahmed
• Sonny Baker
• Tom Banton (wk)
• Jos Buttler (wk)
• Jordan Cox (wk)
• Sam Curran
• Liam Dawson
• Tom Hartley
• Will Jacks
• Scott Currie
• Jamie Overton
• Matthew Potts
• Adil Rashid
• Phil Salt
• Luke Wood

Ireland Squad for the 2nd T20I Against England

• Paul Stirling (c)
• Ross Adair
• Ben Calitz
• Curtis Campher
• Gareth Delany
• George Dockrell
• Graham Hume
• Matthew Humphreys
• Barry McCarthy
• Jordan Neil
•  Harry Tector
• Lorcan Tucker
• Ben White
• Craig Young

Match Predictions

The second T20I game between England and Ireland would be worth watching. The home team will give it all to keep the series alive. They have the resources to change the tide, as players like Harry Tector and Curtis Campher could produce match-winning performances. They have to play a complete game to beat a rampant England team.

The conditions will be suitable for batting once again. Therefore, we can expect that both teams will forge their lineups with strong hitters. The toss would be once again vital, as both teams would be looking to bat first to put on something big on the scoreboard.

Talking about firepower, England already have got tons of resources, they just need some corrections in the bowling department. It needs to be seen how they’ll do that, because Stirling and Tucker will once again test the quality of the English pace attack at Dublin.