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India are in Belfast for a three-match T20I series against Ireland starting June 26 2026. Every Indian fantasy cricket player wants to know one thing before building their team — what does the pitch at Civil Service Cricket Club actually do?
Here is everything you need to know. All T20I records. The average score. Batting vs bowling. Pace vs spin. And the weather forecast for June 26.
About Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast
Civil Service Cricket Club is located in the Stormont Estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The ground is also known as Stormont Cricket Ground. It sits at the foot of the Stormont Parliament buildings and has a capacity of around 6000 spectators.
This is the home ground of Ireland cricket. International matches have been played here since the early 2000s and it has hosted T20Is, ODIs and even a Test match. For India this is their second bilateral T20I series in Ireland — they last toured in 2023.
The ground is surrounded by trees on all sides. That creates a natural wind buffer and can sometimes trap moisture in the air — which helps the ball swing in the early overs. Belfast weather in late June is cool and sometimes overcast which adds to the swing-friendly conditions.
T20I Pitch Report — What the Numbers Say
The Crex data for this venue across 16 T20I matches shows:
Matches played: 16
Average 1st innings score: 158
Average 2nd innings score: 131
Highest total: 190 for 5 by Ireland vs Bangladesh
Lowest total: 56 for 3 by Afghanistan vs Ireland
Highest successful chase: 180 for 4 by New Zealand vs Ireland
Lowest total defended: 146 for 6 by Ireland vs Bangladesh
Win batting first: 56 percent
Win bowling first: 44 percent
Pace vs Spin in last 10 T20I matches:
Pace: 61 wickets at 52 percent
Spin: 57 wickets at 48 percent
These numbers tell an interesting story. Unlike many T20I grounds around the world Belfast is not dominated by pace. Spin takes 48 percent of wickets here. That is one of the highest spin percentages at any T20I ground in Ireland or England. It means if you are picking fantasy bowlers you cannot just load up on pace and ignore spin.
The batting surface is genuine but not easy. Average first innings of 158 means big totals are the exception not the rule at this ground. India’s recent average score of 205 in their last 10 T20Is would be a very strong performance here. A score of 175 or above would be competitive. Anything over 180 would be exceptional at Belfast.
Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast Pitch Report – What the Pitch Actually Does
The pitch at Civil Service Cricket Club behaves differently in three distinct phases of a T20 innings.
Phase 1: Overs 1 to 6
The ball swings here. Early morning or evening matches with overcast skies and high humidity make the ball move off the seam. Ireland’s pace bowlers — and any India pace bowler — can trouble top order batters in the first powerplay if conditions are right. The average powerplay score in T20Is at this ground is lower than most grounds in the UK. Batters need to be patient in the first 3 overs before the ball gets softer.
Phase 2: Overs 7 to 15
This is where spin makes its mark. The track slows down in the middle overs and off-spinners and left-arm spinners can be very effective. George Dockrell of Ireland has taken multiple wickets in this phase at this ground. For India Axar Patel or Ravi Bishnoi can be equally effective if they get the ball to grip. The batters who survive the powerplay face a different challenge in the middle overs — not pace but turn and variation.
Phase 3: Overs 16 to 20
The pitch flattens out in the death overs. Batters who are settled can score quickly in the final five overs. The short boundaries on the square mean sixes are possible but the outfield is not fast. Six hitting is more difficult here than at most T20 grounds. This rewards timing over brute strength which suits classical batters more than pure sloggers.
Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast Pitch Report – Batting vs Bowling at Belfast
The data from historical T20Is at this venue shows that bowling sides have won more often than you might expect. Teams chasing have won 44 percent of matches but teams batting first win 56 percent. That slight edge towards batting first is confirmed by the Crex data.
However the gap between first and second innings average is not huge. 158 average first innings versus 131 average second innings. The dew factor in Belfast in June evenings can make the ball harder to grip for spinners in the second innings as moisture builds on the outfield. This is one reason why chasing teams sometimes struggle even on a flat surface.
For the IRE vs IND series specifically India are likely to bat first if they win the toss. Their batting lineup with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya is capable of posting 180 or above even on a sluggish Belfast surface. If they do that their bowling will do the rest.
Highest Scores at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast
Highest individual team totals in T20Is at this venue:
190 for 5 by Ireland vs Bangladesh — Ireland’s highest at this venue in T20Is
180 for 4 by New Zealand vs Ireland — highest successful chase at this venue
169 by Afghanistan vs Ireland — set in 2025 bilateral series
168 for 7 by West Indies vs Ireland — 2025 bilateral series
The highest total of 190 for 5 tells you what is possible. India’s batting lineup with their current form could push past 190 comfortably. But they will need to build in the powerplay rather than lose early wickets and then try to recover in the middle overs.
Key Records at Civil Service Cricket Club
Best bowling figures in T20Is at this venue:
Ireland bowlers have regularly taken 3 wickets in an innings at this ground against strong opposition. George Dockrell has taken wickets here against multiple full ICC member nations.
Highest individual score in T20Is:
No single batter has dominated here in the way Suryakumar Yadav or Rohit Sharma dominate at flat Asian surfaces. The conditions limit big individual scores. A score of 60 to 70 off 40 balls is exceptional at Belfast.
Most economical bowler:
Pace bowlers bowling with the new ball have been the most dangerous. Left-arm swing bowlers who can get the ball to move in the humid Belfast air tend to have the best economy rates in the powerplay.
Weather Forecast for IRE vs IND 2026 Series
Match 1 — June 26 2026 — Belfast
Temperature: 17.5 degrees Celsius
Conditions: Partly sunny
Humidity: 82 percent
Rain chance: 9 percent
Match conditions are good for cricket. The partly sunny skies mean no heavy rain expected. But 82 percent humidity will make the ball swing throughout the first innings. Pace bowlers will love these conditions. By the second innings as the evening dew settles in on the outfield spin may grip a little less cleanly.
How to Use This Pitch Report for Fantasy Cricket
Captain and Vice Captain picks for IRE vs IND at Belfast:
Pick India top order batters as captain. Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli batting on a surface with an average first innings of 158 gives them the opportunity to score significantly above average. India’s batting unit scores 205 on average. Even if they manage 175 at Belfast it is a below-par performance for them but still a winning total.
Pick a spin bowler from India as your differential. Axar Patel or Ravi Bishnoi on a surface where spin takes 48 percent of wickets is a very high-value pick. Most fantasy players will go pace heavy. The spin percentage at this ground is the secret weapon in any fantasy team built for Belfast.
George Dockrell of Ireland is worth picking. He has taken wickets at this ground against quality opponents. Against an India lineup with multiple right-handers his slow left-arm could be effective in the middle overs.
Be careful with Ireland batters as captains or vice captains. Their average score of 159 in recent matches is competitive but not enough against India’s bowling attack. Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector are the best Ireland batting options but their ceiling at this ground is limited.
Also Read-Best Fantasy Cricket Apps for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Toss Verdict for IRE vs IND at Belfast
Based on the T20I data at Civil Service Cricket Club:
Win the toss and bat first.
The 56 percent bat-first win rate makes batting first the slightly stronger choice. India’s batting lineup is strong enough to post 175 or above and their bowlers are good enough to defend any total against Ireland’s batting. The dew factor in the evening second innings also slightly helps the batting side which is another reason to bat first and let the opposition chase in damp conditions.
FANTASY
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Q: What is the average score at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast in T20Is?
A: The average first innings score in T20Is at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast is 158. The average second innings score is 131. Teams batting first win 56 percent of T20I matches at this venue.
Q: Who wins the toss at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast in T20Is?
A: Teams batting first win 56 percent of T20I matches at this ground. The toss verdict for Belfast is to bat first. India should bat first if they win the toss to take advantage of the slight batting edge and post a big total in good afternoon conditions before the evening dew sets in.
Q: Is Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast good for batters or bowlers?
A: Belfast is a balanced ground that suits both batters and bowlers. Pace bowlers take 52 percent of wickets and spinners take 48 percent — one of the most balanced pace vs spin splits at any ground in the UK. Early overs favour swing bowlers, middle overs favour spinners and the death overs open up for batters who are well set.
Q: What is the highest score at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast in T20Is?
A: The highest T20I team total at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast is 190 for 5 scored by Ireland vs Bangladesh. The highest successful chase at this venue is 180 for 4 by New Zealand vs Ireland.
Q: What is the weather like in Belfast for India vs Ireland 2026?
A: The weather forecast for June 26 2026 in Belfast is partly sunny with a temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius, 82 percent humidity and a 9 percent rain chance. Good conditions for cricket with minimal rain risk but high humidity which will help the ball swing in the first innings.
Q: How many T20Is have been played at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast?
A: 16 T20I matches have been played at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast. Teams batting first have won 9 and teams batting second have won 7 of those matches.
Q: Is spin effective at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast?
A: Yes. Spin takes 48 percent of wickets at Civil Service Cricket Club Belfast in recent T20I matches which is one of the highest spin percentages at any cricket ground in the UK or Ireland. George Dockrell of Ireland has been particularly effective with his left-arm spin at this venue. Any India spinner picking up 3 or 4 overs on this surface should be considered for your fantasy team.