IRE vs ZIM Match Prediction : 32nd Match, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026

Zimbabwean batters are currently playing with excellent rhythm, spending time at the crease to build huge scores. Furthermore, their bowling unit—which dismantled the Australian lineup (barring a fightback from Maxwell and Renshaw)—looks far too potent for a struggling Irish side. This is a great opportunity to back a team in form!

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Ireland vs Zimbabwe Head-to-Head Record

The recent history between these sides has been heavily influenced by weather, with rain prematurely ending two of their last three meetings. In the last five games, Ireland has won twice, while Zimbabwe has secured one victory.

Ireland vs Zimbabwe Live-streaming and Broadcast

Country	TV Channel	Live Streaming
India	Star Sports Network	Disney+ Hotstar App
Pakistan	PTV Sports, Ten Sports	Myco App, Tamasha App
Australia	—	Amazon Prime Video
England (UK)	Sky Sports (Cricket/Main Event)	SkyGO, NOW, Sky Sports App
USA & Canada	Willow TV	Willow by Cricbuzz App
West Indies	ESPN Caribbean	ESPN Play Caribbean
South Africa	SuperSport	SuperSport App
New Zealand	Sky Sport NZ	Sky Sport Now, Sky Go
Sri Lanka	Maharaja TV (TV1, Sirasa, Shakti)	ICC.tv / Maharaja TV Website
Bangladesh	Nagorik TV	Toffee
UAE & MENA	CricLife MAX	StarzPlay, StarzON

You can find live odds, updated tips after every day's play, and more information about this match at ocbsports.com.

IRE vs ZIM Team Previews

Ireland

Ireland’s campaign in this T20 World Cup has been well below their usual standards. The absence of talismanic captain Paul Stirling has left a void in leadership and removed their most feared power-hitter from the top order. Consequently, the batting responsibility has fallen on too few shoulders.

While Lorcan Tucker (94*), Gareth Delany (56), and George Dockrell (35*) heroically carried the team against Oman, the rest of the lineup has struggled to convert starts into significant scores.

Defending totals has also been a major issue. Against Oman, the bowling unit leaked 63 runs in the powerplay alone. Senior pacers Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy were the main culprits, both conceding over 30 runs in their three-over spells.

For a team once known as "giant killers," Ireland has come up short against top nations like Sri Lanka and Australia, surviving only on wins against lesser opposition.

Ireland Expected Playing 11

Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (c/wk), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little

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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has quietly become one of the stories of the tournament. Under the inspirational leadership of Sikandar Raza, they have raised their game to compete with the world’s best. A team that loses only two wickets in a full 20-over quota against Australia has few concerns.

Brian Bennett shone with a half-century, while Tadiwanashe Marumani, Ryan Burl, and Raza all made meaningful contributions.

The towering Blessing Muzarabani leads the attack with menace. He claimed an impressive 4/17 in his four overs against Australia and will be a handful on this surface. Brad Evans, who took three wickets in the same match, will be equally effective if conditions are damp.

The experienced spin duo of Graeme Cremer and Wellington Masakadza provides excellent control in the middle overs.

Zimbabwe Expected Playing 11

Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Dion Myers, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani

IRE vs ZIM Toss Prediction

With early movement expected for seamers and a high probability of evening rain, the captain winning the toss will likely opt to bowl first. Teams batting second have won the last seven encounters between these two sides, further reinforcing this strategy.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at Pallekele usually starts true with decent pace and bounce, offering seamers a chance to strike early in the powerplay. However, if the surface stays dry, it can become two-paced as the match progresses, bringing spinners and cutters into the game.

However, weather is a significant factor. With a 50% chance of rain and high humidity, the DLS method could come into play. The team batting first may need to target a score higher than the usual par of 170 to feel safe.

IRE vs ZIM : Who Will Win?

Zimbabwe finds itself in a commanding position with two wins from two matches. That momentum, combined with their disciplined performance against Australia, puts them firmly on the front foot. In contrast, Ireland has been brushed aside by Sri Lanka and Australia and looks vulnerable.

Bet on Zimbabwe to win.