Day eight of the T20 World Cup promises to be another thrilling tri-match as the battle for Super 8 qualification gathers pace. Ireland and Oman, both on the back of two consecutive defeats, begin the day at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. With their campaigns on the line, the encounter is shaping up to be a virtual knockout where only a win will keep their hopes alive.
The action then moves to the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where England look to bounce back in a crucial Group C clash against Scotland. After overcoming Nepal and then falling short against the West Indies, England will be eager to rediscover rhythm and momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament.
Also Read: Blessing curses Australia as Zimbabwe cause first major upset in T20 World Cup
The day ends in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where New Zealand and South Africa face off in a high-scoring Group D contest that could significantly boost the winner’s chances of advancing to the Super 8s.
When and where to watch
- Ireland vs Oman in Colombo in Group B match at 11:00 IST
- England vs. Scotland at Kolkata in Group C match at 15:00 IST
- New Zealand vs. South Africa at Ahmedabad in Group D match at 7 pm IST
All the matches will be telecast on Star Sports with live streaming available on JioHotstar.
Here is a quick preview of the three matches scheduled for Day 8 of the T20 World Cup.
Match 1 Prediction: Ireland vs Oman in Colombo
Ireland and Oman will face each other in a crucial Group B clash at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, with both teams awaiting elimination. Having lost their opening two games – Ireland to Sri Lanka and Australia and Oman to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka – the equation is clear: win or leave. As the race for the Super 8s intensified, this match essentially became a do-or-diet contest.
Ireland’s task was made more difficult by the loss of captain Paul Stirling, who was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to knee ligament damage against Australia. The absence of the experienced opener is a significant blow to Ireland’s batting power and leadership, especially given his influence at the top of the order.
Twenty-year-old left-handed uncapped batsman Sam Topping was named as his replacement, adding the promise of youth but no international experience to the squad.
Historically, Ireland hold the edge in this head-to-head, having won four of the last six T20I meetings with Oman, including the last three in a row.
However, Oman will draw confidence from their ability to compete with stronger sides and upset them at major tournaments and will be eager to turn their campaign around and secure their first win.
For Ireland, Stirling’s absence increases the onus on players such as Harry Tector, Mark Adair, Lorcan Tucker and Ross Adair to perform 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 in five matches. In three of these matches, the chasing teams have found it easier to bat, so the captain who wins the toss may prefer to field first.
It is expected to be cloudy with no immediate threat of rain. Temperatures will hover around 29 degrees Celsius and humidity is likely to be high.
Expected playing XI
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 Calcutta
England and Scotland play at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in a crucial Group C match that could shape the trajectory of both teams in the tournament. England endured a mixed start to the competition, narrowly surviving a four-round battle against Nepal on a good batting surface. A composed finish from Sam Curran helped the two-time champions overcome a spirited Nepali side after being pushed to the brink.
This narrow escape was followed by a major setback England suffered a 30-run defeat against the West Indies. Chasing 197, they were bowled out for 166, with the loss exposing weaknesses against spin and inconsistencies in their middle order. The performance underlined that England are yet to hit their stride and hit their best.
Scotland is also in a competitive position. After opening with a 35-run defeat to the West Indies where they were dismissed for 147, they bounced back in style with an impressive 73-run win over Italy at the same venue. The Scots posted 207 for 4, powered by an impressive 84 from George Munsey, and showed their ability to dominate with both bat and ball.
A win would greatly boost Scotland’s Super 8 chances and put further pressure on England in a tightly packed group. With the teams level on points, pure run rate could prove decisive. Expect an intense battle as Scotland build on their momentum and England look to rediscover their rhythm.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Kolkata has generally been sporting over the years, with an average first innings score of 157 from 14 matches since 2011. However, the teams batting first have maintained a slight edge, averaging 161 compared to 153 for the second batting sides.
The chasing teams have already lost twice in the tournament, so opting to bat first may be the preferred strategy.
Conditions are expected to be favorable for cricket, with a mix of sun and cloud. No rain is forecast and temperatures are likely to hover around 29 degrees Celsius.
Expected playing XI
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 at Ahmedabad
In a promising Group D encounter at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, unbeaten New Zealand will take on South Africa in a contest that could all but secure a place in the Super 8 for the winners. Both teams have won their opening two matches.
New Zealand chased down Afghanistan before beating the UAE by 10 wickets, while South Africa showed both strength and resilience, highlighted by a dramatic double Super Over victory against Afghanistan.
However, New Zealand’s campaign suffered a setback as all-rounder Michael Bracewell was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a calf injury sustained during the warm-up before the Afghanistan match. Veteran T20 batsman Cole McConchie was named as his replacement, adding depth and balance to the Black Caps squad.
South Africa’s win over Afghanistan was historic and they emerged victorious the first match in the history of the T20 World Cup to be decided by a double Super Over. After both the regulation match and the first Super Over ended in a draw, the Proteas held their nerve in a thrilling finish to see off their opponents.
Both sides are comfortably in the top half of Group D and a win on Saturday would give the winner a firm chance of Super 8 qualification with a game to spare. New Zealand’s batting was driven by strong top-order contributions from Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, while a combination of explosive hitting and disciplined bowling from South Africa made them a dangerous outfit in pressure situations.
With sheer run rate and momentum also at stake, it’s a tight game. The Ahmedabad surface is expected to offer good bounce and carry, setting the stage for a thrilling battle between bat and ball in this crucial World Cup encounter.
Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch was excellent for batting, with an average score of 184 from 10 matches. Batting first teams have won 7 of those 10 games, suggesting that the ideal approach might be to set a goal and put runs on the board.
No rain is expected, temperatures should be around 29 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels will be comfortable, hovering in the mid-20s.
Expected playing XI
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
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 14, 2026