LPL 2023: Match 1, JK vs CS, Preview, Predicted XIs, Head-to-Head, Records & Stats with Pitch Report at R Premadasa Stadium

The Lanka Premier League 2023 (LPL 2023) is all set to kick start on Sunday, July 30 with three-time winner Jaffna Kings clashing against the Colombo Stars at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. In a rematch of the final of LPL 2022, Jafna Kings will be looking to start the new campaign with a bang. They have accumulated an impressive squad with players like Chris Lynn, David Miller, Shoaib Malik, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. On the other hand, the Stars also have a great squad led by skipper Babar Azam with players like Niroshan Dickwella, Naseem Shah, and Wahab Riaz on the roster. Overall, this looks like a mouth-watering opener to a promising T20 League.

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JK vs CS: Match Details:

• Match: Lanka Premier League 2023 Game No 1; Jafna Kings vs Colombo Stars
• Date and Time: Sunday, July 30, 7:00 PM IST
• Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
• Where to watch: Star Sports and FanCode

Pitch Report at the R. Premadasa Stadium

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The venue hosted 10 games in LPL 2022, with seven games being won by the team batting second. With an average first innings score of 145, the pitch can be challenging for batters. The captain winning the toss should look to bowl first and exert immediate pressure given both sides have quality spinner in their line-up. A modest total could be a hard chase but chasing teams have had the upper hand in the ground.

JK vs CS: Predicted XIs

Jaffna Kings: C Asalanka, S Malik, T Perera (C), A Gunaratne, KNM Fernando, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, D Madushanka, N Thushara, Z Khan, M Theekshana

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Colombo Stars: Babar Azam (C), A Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Iftikhar Ahmed, C Karunaratne, RTM Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, N Dickwella (wk), Naseem Shah, Matheesha Pathirana, JF Vandersay

JK vs CS: Head-to-Head

The two franchises have played a total of seven games between them with Jafna Kings enjoying the upper hand with five victories whereas two games have been won by Colombo Stars.

JK vs CS: Full Squads:

Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Kumara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vithushan, Asanka Manoj, Nishan Madushka, Asitha Fernando, Hardus Viljoen, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Zaman Khan, Ashan Randika, Ratnarajah Thenurathan, Chris Lynn, Asela Gunarathne

Colombo Stars: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dananjaya, Movin Subasinghe, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Sashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmad, Lorcan Tucker, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kanishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Yashoda Lanka