2020 Lanka Premier League – Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

When is Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators taking place? Saturday 5^th December, 2020 – 10:00 (UK)

Where is Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators taking place? MRIC Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Where can I get tickets for Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators? No tickets are available as this tournament is taking place without spectators

What channel is Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators on? This match will be televised live on Sky Sports Cricket

Where can I stream Dambulla Viiking vs Galle Gladiators? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live via the Sky Go app

THE LOWDOWN

DAMBULLA VIIKING

• Dambulla’s performance in the tournament so far has been fairly impressive with three wins from four matches giving the Viiking’s legitimate ambitions of the title as they come into this clash with the struggling Gladiators.
• The introduction of Ireland’s Paul Stirling from their second match onwards following an injury to Oshada Fernando hasn’t gone too well with scores of 1, 1, 2 leading to him being dropped in their victory over Kandy as they moved Upul Tharanga up to open.
• The strengths of Dambulla’s side lies mainly in the middle-order as Samit Patel and Dasun Shanaka have consistently performed whilst Angelo Perera has replaced Stirling in the side to bat at three and made 67 from 49 in the victory over Kandy on Thursday that they will look to build on here.

GALLE GLADIATORS

• Galle have been poor in this tournament so far as they have lost all of their four matches and all by fairly comprehensive margins and their chances of reaching the knockout phase look bleak to say the least.
• A failure, on two occasions, to defend sub-par totals against Jaffna and defeats against Kandy and Colombo have left Galle at the bottom of the table. Only Danushka Gunathilaka has offered the Gladiators half-decent totals. A constant chopping and changing aside from him at the top has meant they are yet to name the same top five in order in consecutive matches.
• This unpredictable selection, let alone performance, as well as an over-reliance on Mohammed Amir and Lakshan Sandakan, means that Galle will have to produce something special in the second half of this group stage to avoid finishing bottom.

THE PREDICTION

Dambulla, despite reservations about the top-order, should have more than enough to make it four wins from their opening five as they head into the second half of the league stage. The Gladiators will potentially look to chance Hazratullah Zazai again and hope he comes off after two failures in their opening four but, as mentioned, the lack of clarity both on and off the pitch means this result should be a formality. Dambulla are simply the better all-round team and have form on their side.