Colombo Strikers vs Galle Marvels Preview & Prediction | 2024 Lanka Premier League | League Stage
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The Colombo Strikers welcome the Galle Marvels to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday after both sides enjoyed victories in their opening matches of the 2024 Lanka Premier League.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday 3rd July, 2024: USA ET – 7:00am / USA (CST) - 9:00am / USA PT – 10:00am / UK – 3:00pm / South Africa – 4:00pm / Pakistan - 7:00pm / India – 7:30pm / Sri Lanka – 7:30pm / Bangladesh – 8:00pm / Thursday 4th July: Australia – 12:00am
VENUE: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
WEATHER: 28c or 82.4 F with showers expected
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: USA – Not Televised / West Indies – Not Televised / UK – Not Televised / South Africa – Not Televised / Pakistan - Star Sports / India – Star Sports / Bangladesh – Star Sports / Australia – Not Televised/ Sri Lanka – Star Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: USA – Not Available / West Indies – Not Available / UK – Not Available / South Africa – Not Available / Pakistan - Tapmad / India – Fancode / Sri Lanka – Dialog TV Bangladesh – Not Available / Australia – Kayo Sports
COLOMBO STRIKERS FORM: OPENING MATCH HAMMERING
The Colombo Strikers endured a very difficult 2023 campaign but some good trading in the auction has left them with arguably the most well rounded squad in the competition this time around and that showed in their opener as they hammered the defending champions Kandy Falcons by 51 runs in Pallekele on Tuesday.
LAST THREE: WLW
GALLE MARVELS FORM: ALL HAIL ALEX HALES
The Galle Marvels have one of the most destructive opening partnerships on paper in the competition with captain and wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella pairing with Alex Hales. Dickwella himself scored 47 but Hales’ match-winning 65 from 47 balls set the Marvels up to squeeze over the line off the final ball of the match against the Jaffna Kings in their opener.
LAST THREE: WLL
COLOMBO STRIKERS BETTING ANALYSIS
Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top of the order is the Strikers’ banker bet but his 17 off ten balls wasn’t the best of starts to the tournament. However, the depth to their line-up was on show with contributions of 20 or more from five others. The best value bet, though, is to stick with Gurbaz showing his quality and being their best batter in most games, including this one.
The Kandy Falcons struggled with the variation in spin that the Strikers possess as shown by the fact Shadab Khan took 4-22 and Dunith Wellalage managed figures of 4-20 to win the match for Colombo. Despite Wellalage having the better figures, backing Khan to take two or more wickets again is the best bet here.
GALLE MARVELS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Galle Marvels won the game on the final ball in their last match with Sahan Arachchige scoring four off the final ball when they required three runs to win. They lost three of their five wickets to spin so with Colombo’s strength in the spin department, backing either Bhanuka Rajapaksa or Janith Liyange, homegrown players with better pace games, to be the top batter for Galle seems a good bet.
With the ball, they themselves are actually a little reliant on pace with all seven of the wickets that they took against Jaffna Kings coming to medium fast bowlers. Maheesh Theekshana is the pick on paper, though, and it will be a rarity he goes two successive games in this tournament wicketless so backing him to take two or more wickets looks the way to go for this one.
COLOMBO STRIKERS VS GALLE MARVELS EXPERT PREDICTION
This may be viewed as quite an even contest with both of the teams beginning their 2024 seasons with victories. However, the manner of their victories would indicate a more one-sided contest than might be generally expected. The Colombo Strikers have an excellent squad and great depth with both bat and ball and, especially with their home advantage for this one, they are favourites to make it two wins from two.
COLOMBO STRIKERS VS GALLE MARVELS TOP TIP: COLOMBO STRIKERS TO WIN
