Lanka Premier League 2021: Match 3, Galle Gladiators vs Colombo Stars, Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

Galle Gladiators will face Colombo Stars in the third league fixture of the Lanka Premier League on December 6 at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium. The tournament finally got underway on December 4, with the Gladiators taking on Jaffna Kings after the league had to be twice in the wake of Covid-19 and avoiding clashes with other T20 leagues around the world.

While the inaugural edition of the tournament last year garnered interest aplenty, the second edition had a turbulent build-up, with as many as three original franchises from the league terminated due to off-field issues. The show, however, has moved on, with five teams now battling out over 20 matches.

Unlike the first edition, when the top four teams out of the total five proceeded to the semi-finals, the league has adopted an IPL-like model of playoffs this year, after all the franchises felt the previous model undervalued the results of the league stage, with a single encounter – semi-final – having enough riding on it to entirely negate all the doings of the league stage.

Match Details

Match – Galle Gladiators vs Colombo Stars – Match 3

Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Time – 07:30 PM IST

Where to watch live – Sony Six, Sony LIV

Pitch Report

The Khettarama surface is traditionally known to assist spinners and with matches coming thick and fast, the tracks will progressively slow down. That said, the new ball might zip around a bit. Expect dew to make things easier for the chasing side.

Average score: 152 (42 matches in T20Is at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 22, Lost – 19, N/R – 1

Probable Playing XIs

Galle Gladiators 

Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (c), Samit Patel, Lahiru Madushanka, Isuru Udana, Pulina Tharanga, Noor Ahmad, Nuwan Thushara

Colombo Stars

Tom Banton, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal/Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Matthews (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Akila Dananjaya, Seekuge Prasanna, Ravi Rampaul, David Wiese, Ashan Priyanjan

Head-to-Head

Played – 3 | Galle Gladiators – 2 | Colombo Stars – 1 | N/R – 0

Probable Top Performers

Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 249 from nine games with Chennai Braves in the recently-concluded T10 League, striking at 193.

David Weise, after an impressive T20 World Cup 2021, carried his good form into the T10 League, where he tallied 149 in seven innings, striking at a whopping 225.75.

Today’s match prediction: Galle Gladiators to win the match.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.