Who will win Ireland vs Nigeria, T20 WCQ 2019?
Ireland can secure an ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier play-off place with victory against winless Nigeria in their final match in Group B. The game takes place at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on October 26 and the live action gets underway at 10:00 local time.
Ireland have won three and lost two so far, but a comfortable victory against Jersey – after Mark Adair’s 3-10 from three overs and Paul Stirling’s unbeaten 58 as the Irish reached 110/2 in 14 overs – means they have virtually guaranteed a play-off place already. The question now is whether they can beat Nigeria by a big enough margin to seal a semi-final play-off spot – and two attempts to reach the World Cup as a result.
Nigeria are not expected to get anything from this game. The gulf between them and the top teams has been exposed as, after replacing suspended Zimbabwe at this tournament, they have lost all four matches by big margins.
IRE vs NGA, T20 WCQ 2019:Where to watch/Live streaming
Live streaming: ICC YouTube page
IRE vs NGA Toss Prediction
Ireland won the toss for the first time last time out and elected to field first – with net run rate important, it could be a clever tactic again, giving them a little more control on how quickly they can wrap up victory.
IRE vs NGA Weather Report
The match will start in 31-degree temperatures (Celsius) and not get any cooler, with clear skies and no chance of rain – as has been the case throughout the tournament in Abu Dhabi.
IRE vs NGA Pitch Condition
The Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium has generally produced some good, competitive, balanced wickets so far.
Read on for team previews,betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Ireland vs Nigeria, T20 WC Qualifiers 2019...
Ireland Team News & Playing 11
IRE Team News
Craig Young bowled well after replacing Stuart Thompson last time out, and could retain his place in an unchanged 11 as a result. Andy Balbirnie moved back above Gareth Delany in the batting order, but the two will be at three and four in some combination, after Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien.
IRE Key Players
Paul Stirling: His excellent batting form in this tournament returned with his third half-century in five games last time out. He also hit 62 against Hong Kong and 72 against the UAE, before hammering an unbeaten 58 at the top of the order against Jersey.
Mark Adair: The paceman was in excellent form against Jersey, claiming 3-10 to move to eight wickets in five games at this tournament, and 23 wickets in 14 matches in his T20 international career.
Boyd Rankin: Took a smart caught-and-bowled to move to 50 T20 international wickets last time out, with his fifth wicket in five games at this tournament.
IRE Team Form
Defeat to Canada dented Ireland’s ambitions – the Irish falling short on 146/7 chasing 157 to win – but they bounced back with a dominant win against Jersey last time out. Mark Adair led the bowling effort with 3-10 from his four overs, as Jersey folded for 105, before Paul Stirling’s unbeaten half-century ensured Ireland needed just 14 overs to wrap up an eight-wicket win.
Ireland Predicted Playing 11
Paul Stirling, Kevin O’Brien, Gareth Delany, Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Gary Wilson (c, wk), Mark Adair, Craig Young, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, David Delany
Nigeria Team News & Playing 11
NGA Team News
Vincent Adewoye returned last time out, replacing Isaac Okpe as Nigeria changed the balance of their line-up. Good middle-order batting from Chimezie Onwuzulike and Sesan Adedeji gives them something to build on with the bat and it could be a similarly balanced team this time.
NGA Key Players
Sesan Adedeji: Scored his maiden T20 international half-century last time out, hitting four fours and two sixes to attain the milestone against the UAE.
Chimezie Onwuzulike: Was just short of matching Adedeji, finishing unbeaten on 46 to follow up the 39 he scored against Canada earlier in the tournament.
Sylvester Okpe: Took 2-22 last time out against the UAE to move to four wickets in three games at this tournament, having previously taken one apiece against Oman and Canada.
NGA Team Form
Nigeria have lost all four matches they have played in this tournament, unable to compete with the more established teams around them. They scored 115/7 and 109/8 in defeats to Jersey and Canada, before being bowled out for 71 by Oman in the next match. Last time out, Sesan Adedeji hit their first half-century of the tournament but they could only manage 111/3 after a poor start against the UAE, and lost by five wickets with 7.3 overs to spare.
Nigeria Predicted Playing 11
Daniel Ajekun, Sulaimon Runsewe, Leke Oyede, Chimezie Onwuzulike, Sesan Adedeji, Ademola Onikoyi (c, wk), Daniel Gim, Vincent Adewoye, Sylvester Okpe, Chima Akachukwu, Abiodun Abioye
Ireland vs Nigeria Head to Head
With Nigeria very new to the top stage, and only here by default after Zimbabwe’s suspension, this is unsurprisingly the first time these nations will have met.
🏆 Ireland vs Nigeria Prediction
Ireland got back on track with a big win against Jersey, and the gulf between themselves and Nigeria is vast. This should be another big victory for the Irish to conclude their group stage fixtures.
Final Verdict: Back Ireland to beat Nigeria.
Oct 26, 2019
11:30 IST / 6:00 GMT
Sheikh Zayed Stadium - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
T20 WC Qualifiers 
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