Galle Gladiators vs Kandy Tuskers, Lanka Premier League 2020, Today Match Prediction 10 Dec 2020

ggd vs kdt Match Prediction & Analysis

Kandy Tuskers and Galle Gladiators will lock horns in 19th game of 2020 Lanka Premier League at Hambantota on Thursday.

Kandy Tuskers will be looking to end their campaign with a win over Galle Gladiators. Kusal Perera-led unit will be keen to produce their best cricket in this dead rubber.

For Galle Gladiators, it has been a sheer disappointment in terms of results in the inaugural Lanka Premier League. With a solitary win out of seven matches played, Gladiators will be looking to end their season on a positive note.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Galle Gladiators Preview

Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be hoping that the side can play to their potential in this dead rubber. The side might one or two changes to their playing XI for this game.

In their previous game, Galle Gladiators were put into bat first after losing the toss against Dambulla Vikings.

Openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Ahsan Ali got the side off to a decent start, courtesy 33-run partnership. Ahsan Ali failed to make impression with the bat and perished for a low score.

Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa came to the crease and formed a 50-run partnership with Danushka Gunathilaka to rebuild the innings for Galle Gladiators.  Bhanuka Rajapaksa gave his wicket away at a crucial stage in the game. He scored 31 runs off 18 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes.

With the dismissal of Rajapaksa, the side lost momentum as the likes of Azam Khan and Danushka Gunathilaka perished in quick succession. Chadwick Walton freakish injury meant he went back to the pavilion. With the side reduced to 90 for 4, Shehan Jayasuriya led the way with the bat and formed crucial partnerships with Sahan Arachchige and Dhananjaya Lakshan to post a decent total of 168 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

For Galle Gladiators, Danushka Gunathilaka played well and finished the innings with the top-score of 46 runs off 31 balls with the help of eight boundaries. He was well supported by the likes of Shehan Jayasuriya and Dhananjaya Lakshan, who chipped in with scores of 37 and 23 not out respectively.

In the bowling department, Dhananjaya Lakshan bowled well and picked up two wickets in his four overs. Pacer Mohammad Amir, Shehan Jayasuriya and Lakshan Sandakan claimed one wicket each.

Galle Gladiators Predicted Playing XI:

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

Galle Gladiators Actual Playing XI:

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

Kandy Tuskers Preview

The inclusion of veteran pacer Dale Steyn certainly reaped good results for Kandy Tuskers as they put in a decent bowling performance against in-form Jaffna Stallions.

Despite losing the toss against Jaffna Stallions, the pace trio of Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando and Dale Steyn picked up wickets at crucial stages to dismiss Jaffna Stallions for 150 runs in 20 overs.

For Kandy Tuskers, medium-pacer Nuwan Pradeep was the pick of the bowlers and finished with figures of 3 for 36 in his four overs. Besides Pradeep, Dale Steyn, Vishwa Fernando and Asela Gunaratne claimed two wickets apiece.

Chasing 151 runs for victory, Kandy Tuskers got off to shaky start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kusal Mendis perished for low scores. Despite losing wickets at the other end, Skipper Kusal Perera looked in excellent form and added 51-run partnership with Asela Gunaratne to see Kandy Tuskers get close to the target.

Kusal Perera scored 42 runs off 36 balls with the help of four boundaries. Left-hander was dismissed in the 13th over to see Tuskers lose their fourth wicket.

For Kandy Tuskers, all-rounder Asela Gunaratne put in match-winning performance with the bat and finished the innings with the top-score of 52 not out off 37 balls with the help of five fours and one six. He stitched another crucial partnership with Irfan Pathan to see Tuskers compete the chase in final over of the innings.

Irfan Pathan also chipped in with crucial innings of unbeaten 25 runs off 19 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Kandy Tuskers Predicted Playing XI:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kusal Perera (c & wk), Kusal Mendis, Brendan Taylor, Asela Gunaratne, Irfan Pathan, Dilruwan Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Dale Steyn

Kandy Tuskers Actual Playing XI:

BRM Taylor, Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera, Vishwa Fernando, S Prasanna, Kusal Mendis, Irfan Pathan, Dale Steyn, Asela Gunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Rahmanullah Gurbaz

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

With weather expected to be  perfect for the day-night game, the pitch will certainly have moisture in the pitch due to rains taking place in the past couple of days. The spinners might not get much assistance from the surface.

Venue Details

In the previous meeting between the two teams, Kandy Tuskers registered 25-run victory over Galle Gladiators.

Toss: To Bat

Both the sides will be keen to win the toss and bat first on this surface. Average first innings score at this venue has been around 160 to 170 runs.