DMA vs GLT Match Prediction & Analysis
The league games of the Lanka Premier League 2023 have concluded, setting up an exciting playoff stage. Galle Titans, who needed a win in their last league game against Colombo Strikers to secure qualification, not only emerged victorious but also jumped to the second spot on the table with a convincing 8-wicket triumph. They will now face Dambulla Aura, who finished at the top of the table, in Qualifier 1. On the other hand, Kandy will take on Jaffna in the Eliminator match. Both these thrilling encounters are scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 17th at R. Premadasa Stadium.
TEAMS PREVIEW
Dambulla Aura Preview
Dambulla Aura topped the league stage with an impressive performance. They only suffered two losses out of eight matches and have managed to win their last five games in a row. In their final league game against Kandy, Dambulla emerged victorious with a comfortable 20-run margin. What’s even more impressive is that they achieved this victory with a greatly rotated lineup, which speaks volumes about their depth and ability. Opting to bat first at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Dambulla posted a competitive total of 162-7 before successfully bowling out Kandy for 142 runs.
Avishka Fernando emerged as the leading run-scorer for Dambulla in their previous match, showcasing his skill with a remarkable knock of 41 runs off just 27 deliveries. As of now, he holds the coveted title of being the team’s highest scorer this season, having accumulated an impressive total of 215 runs from 8 innings. His average stands at 30.71, accompanied by a striking strike rate of
Another batter worth supporting in the team is Sadeera Samarawickrama. Although he hasn’t scored big runs, his consistent performance as an opener provides Dambulla with reliable starts, which is highly valuable on these challenging tracks. In 8 innings, Samarawickrama has accumulated 185 runs with an average of 26.42 and a strike rate of 128.47.
In just two innings, Ben McDermott has already left a significant mark, scoring an impressive 106 runs with a strike rate of 153.62. As a middle-order batter, his performance can have a major impact, especially in the knockout games.
Dhananjaya de Silva has stood out as a key bowler for Dambulla this year. He has taken 9 wickets in 8 innings with an economy rate of 7.08. The team’s spin attack is further strengthened by Binura Fernando and Noor Ahmad, who have both taken 7 wickets each and will pose a significant challenge on this surface.
Hasan Ali, the Pakistani speedster, has been a key asset to Dambulla’s bowling attack. With 7 wickets in just 4 innings, Hasan has showcased incredible skill and rhythm. His presence on this surface will undoubtedly pose a challenge for any batsman.
Dambulla Aura Predicted Playing XI:
The team lineup for the upcoming match includes Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (captain and wicket-keeper), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ben McDermott, Alex Ross, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Dushan Hemantha, Hasan Ali, Noor Ahmad, Binura Fernando
Galle Titans Preview
Galle Titans will enter their upcoming match with a strong sense of confidence following their exceptional performance in the final league game. In a decisive encounter, Galle chose to bowl first and proceeded to dismiss Colombo for a paltry total of 74 runs. This dominant display effectively sealed the match, allowing Galle to secure victory by eight wickets without breaking much of a sweat. The bowlers were truly exceptional, particularly left-arm chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi who claimed four wickets for just 20 runs. Seekkuge Prasanna was also impressive with figures of 3-14. However, it was Lahiru Kumara’s spellbinding performance of 2-9 from two overs that proved to be the knockout punch against Colombo.
Shamsi leads the bowling charts for Galle with 11 wickets in 7 innings, maintaining an economy rate of 7.25. Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara have also been reliable bowlers this season, with Rajitha taking 10 wickets in 8 innings at an economy of 7.79 and Kumara securing 6 wickets in just 3 innings at a rate of 5.30
Another standout player is all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. In addition to his impressive performance with 8 wickets taken using his left-arm spin, he has also proven to be exceptionally economical, only conceding an average of 5.66 runs per over.
The Titans will be without their top run-getter, Tim Seifert, as he has been called up for national duty. However, Litton Das is a reliable replacement for the team.
Keep an eye on Lasith Croospulle, who recently played a fantastic unbeaten innings of 42 runs off just 25 balls. His current form has been impressive, with a remarkable strike rate of 150. Additionally, we have high hopes for the captain, Dasun Shanaka, in this crucial match. While he may not have had a standout tournament so far, Shanaka is known as a game-changer and has the potential to make a significant impact.
Galle Titans Predicted Playing XI:
The team lineup includes Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Lasith Croospulle, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das as the wicketkeeper, Najibullah Zadran, Dasun Shanaka as the captain, Lahiru Kumara, Tabraiz Shamsi
PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Weather Conditions
As the tournament progresses, the pitch at the R.Premadasa Stadium has become slower. This means that the ball doesn’t come off the bat as smoothly after the first few overs. Batters who come in after a wicket falls in the middle overs will face challenges. Spinners will have an advantage as the ball loses its shine, while seam bowlers may find some movement early on in the innings.
Venue Details
At the R.Premadasa Stadium, the average score for the team batting first in the LPL is 146. The highest total recorded at this venue this year is 180. So, we can expect a game with relatively low scores. If a team bats first, they should aim to set a target of around 150-160 runs.
Toss: To Bat
In this season of the LPL, there have been 12 matches played at the R.Premadasa Stadium. Out of these, eight have been won by the team batting first and four by the chasing side. Considering that this is a high-pressure game, it is likely that the team winning the toss will choose to bat first. Chasing a competitive score in such matches can be risky.
Winning Prediction
Dambulla Aura will Win this Match
Dambulla Aura and Galle Titans faced off twice this year, with each team winning one game. Both teams enter the Qualifier with boosted confidence from recent wins. The match is expected to showcase excellent bowling performances from both Dambulla and Galle on a suitable pitch. While Dambulla’s batting lineup seems stronger and includes more in-form players, Galle’s batting might be weaker without Tim Seifert. If skipper Shanaka and the top order fail to perform for Galle, they could face challenges. It is anticipated to be a closely contested match, but we predict that Dambulla will emerge victorious.
