Ireland are set to lock horns with South Africa in the first ODI of their three-match series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Wednesday, October 2.

The Ireland squad brings a well-rounded combination of seasoned veterans and promising young talent, with experienced figures like Paul Stirling, Mark Adair and Andy Balbirnie leading the team. Rising stars Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher will play crucial roles in Ireland’s ambitions to challenge the Proteas once again.

South Africa, on the other hand, are under pressure to regain form after a disappointing run, including a T20I series loss and a recent defeat in their series against Afghanistan. The Proteas are keen to turn things around in this ODI series, but Ireland’s recent success in the T20 format adds an intriguing dynamic.

Ireland vs South Africa in UAE 2024, 1st ODII:

• Date and Time: October 2: 11:30 am GMT/3:30 pm Local/ 5:00 pm IST
• Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Stadium Pitch Report

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch in Abu Dhabi is highly regarded for its bowler-friendly conditions, providing ample assistance to both spinners and pacers. The surface gradually slows the ball as it moves, making it tricky for batters to accurately read its pace. This unpredictability disrupts their rhythm, causing mistimed shots and limiting their ability to execute with precision and finesse. The slowing nature of the wicket also forces batters to constantly adapt, adding to the overall difficulty of scoring runs fluently on this challenging track.

IRE vs SA Dream11 Prediction Picks:

• Wicketkeeper: Lorcan Tucker, Kyle Vereynne
• Batters: Paul Stirling, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Andrew Balbirnie
• All-rounders: Andy McBrine, Curtis Campher
• Bowlers: Craig Young, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi

IRE vs SA Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:

• Choice 1: Rassie van der Dussen (c), Curtis Campher (vc)
• Choice 2: Lorcan Tucker (c), Lungi Ngidi (vc)

Also READ: IRE vs SA 2024: South Africa’s best XI for the ODI series against Ireland

IRE vs SA Dream11 Prediction Backups:

Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand

IRE vs SA Dream11 Team for today’s match (October 2, 2024, 11:30 am GMT):

Squads:

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony De Zozi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Vereynne, Lizaad Williams

Ireland: Paul Stirling (captain), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Fionn Hand, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Humphreys, Graham Hume, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young, Andrew Balbirnie, Andy McBrine

Also READ: IRE vs SA: Ireland’s best playing XI for the ODI series against South Africa