Colombo Kings vs Galle Gladiators, Lanka Premier League 2020, Today Match Prediction 13 Dec 2020

clk vs ggd Match Prediction & Analysis

Colombo Kings and Galle Gladiators will battle it out for a place in the finals when they lock horns in the 1st semifinal of 2020 Lankan Premier League at Hambantota on Sunday.

In the previous two meeting between the teams, Galle Gladiators and Colombo Kings have won one game apiece.

Galle Gladiators Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be hoping that the side can deliver their best cricket in this knockout game. In their final round-robin game, bowlers put in a clinical performance to see Gladiators storm to a comprehensive victory over Kandy Tuskers.

On the other hand, Colombo Kings have shown consistency with bat and ball to seal their place in the semifinals of the competition. Colombo Kings finished at the top of the league table in the preliminary stages and will be looking to continue their winning in this semifinal

TEAMS PREVIEW

Colombo Kings Preview

Angelo Matthews-led unit will be high on confidence after registering an impressive six-wicket win against Dambulla Vikings in their final round-robin match on Friday, courtesy Qais Ahmad’s all-round heroics.

The team will be depending on the pair of Laurie Evans (289 runs at an average of 57.80) and Dinesh Chandimal (232 runs at an average of 46.40) to produce the goods from the top, whereas all-rounder Andre Russell (158 runs at an average of 31.60) will be expected to provide fireworks in the later stages of the innings.

Middle-order comprising of captain Angelo Matthews, Daniel-Bell Drummond and Thikshila De Silva have contributed with crucial runs for the Dambulla Viking in this year’s competition. The batting trio will certainly need to contribute with the bat if Colombo Kings wants to seal their place in the finals of the Lanka Premier League.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Qais Ahmad, Andre Russell and Dushmantha Chameera to provide crucial breakthroughs in this contest. Leg-spinner Qais Ahmad has topped the bowling charts for the side so far in the competition with 11 wickets at an average of 15.26 with a splendid economy rate of 6.46

Isuru Udana and Angelo Matthews are other bowling options for the side for this game.

Colombo Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Laurie Evans, Thikshila de Silva, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Angelo Mathews (c), Andre Russell, Ashan Priyanjan, Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmad, Tharindu Kaushal, Dushmantha Chameera

Colombo Kings Actual Playing XI:

Amila Aponso, Isuru Udana, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Udara, Ashan Priyanjan, Andre Russell, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Thikshila de Silva, Qais Ahmad

Galle Gladiators Preview

The side has managed to secure their semifinal berth after winning their two matches in the competition. Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be pleased with his side’s dominant performance in the final round-robin game against Kandy Tuskers.

Gladiators have no injury concerns and will certainly play the same the XI that featured in the previous game against Kandy Tuskers.

Gladiators’ batting has been their Achilles heel in this inaugural Lanka Premier League. The side has looked heavily reliant in their opener Danushka Gunathilaka to deliver the bulk of the runs.

Left-hander has shown tremendous consistency with the bat and is currently leading run-getter in the tournament with 462 runs in eight matches at an average of 77.00 and with a strike rate of 144.82, which included four half-centuries.

He is being well-supported by wicket-keeper Azam Khan, who has scored only 158 runs at an average of 31.60, which included one half-century.

In the bowling department, the home side has been heavily relying on spearhead Mohammad Amir to make crucial breakthroughs in this semifinal clash. Left-arm quick is being the pick of the bowlers for the team with 10 scalps in eight matches at a strike-rate of 18.00 and with an economy-rate of 7.73.

He is being well-supported by spinner Dhananjaya Lakshan, who has claimed eight wickets at an average of 20.25.

Galle Gladiators Predicted Playing XI:

Danushka Gunathilaka, Ahsan Ali, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (c), Azam Khan (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sahan Arachchige, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Lakshan Sandakan, Mohammad Amir, Nuwan Thushara

Galle Gladiators Actual Playing XI:

Ahsan Ali, Nuwan Thushara, Sahan Arachchige, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Chanaka Ruwansiri, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shehan Jayasuriya, Mohammad Amir, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Azam Khan

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The wicket is expected to be perfect for batting for this semifinal clash between Colombo Kings and Galle Gladiators. The weather forecast for Sunday’s game is going to be partly cloudy with light winds.

Venue Details

In the round-robin stages, Colombo Kings managed to come out on top in a game played against Galle Gladiators on 28th November.

On 7th December, Galle Gladiators managed to pull off amazing win over Colombo Kings,  courtesy Mohammad Amir’s five-wicket haul and Ahsan Ali’s maiden half-century.

Toss: To Bat

Both the sides will be keen to win the toss and bat first in this knockout game. Anything above 190 runs will be tough to chase down in this game.