Galle Gladiators will take on Jaffna Kings in the final of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) on Thursday (December 23). Coincidentally, it was these two teams, who played the opener of the LPL on December 5. Now, they will face each other in the summit clash and bring the curtains down on a fascinating season of LPL.
The Gladiators were the first to book a place in the finals on the virtue of beating the Kings in the Qualifiers 1. The Bhanuka Rajapaksa-led team are the only team to have defeated the Kings in the LPL. The teams have met on three occasions in the current season, with Gladiators winning all of them.
Gladiators all-rounder Samit Patel has been exceptional, contributing with the bat and ball. He is currently the leading wickettaker of the tournament, with 15 wickets in 9 games at an incredible average of 12.47.
He has also chipped in with handy contributions lower down the order. Kusal Mendis has also been scoring well at the top for Gladiators. Overall, the team has momentum and will look to carry forward the same. Meanwhile, the Kings have stormed into the finals on accounting of beating the Dambulla Giants by 23 runs.
Avishka Fernando’s terrific 100 was the catalyst of the victory. Kings' success in the LPL has relied on the solid starts their batters have provided. Apart from Fernando, Gurbaz, Shoaib Malik and Perera have also contributed well. In the bowling, the spin twins Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga have done the bulk of the damage.
Pitch Report
Three matches have been played in Hambantota so far and all have been fairly high-scoring ones. Another run feast should be on display in the final given the placid surface that'll be on offer.
Probable Playing XIs for GG vs JK:
Galle Gladiators
Kusal Mendis (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Anwar Ali, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Samit Patel, Isuru Udana, Sahan Arachchige, Pulina Tharanga, Nuwan Thushara, Mohammad Amir
Jaffna Kings
Avishka Fernando, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chaturanga de Silva, Ashan Randika, Jayden Seales, Suranga Lakmal, Maheesh Theekshana
Match Details:
Galle Gladiators vs Jaffna Kings, Final
Venue: Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
Date & Time: December 23rd at 7:30 PM IST and local time
Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network