Lanka Premier League 2021: Match 8, Dambulla Giants vs Galle Gladiators, Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

The Dambulla Giants will play table-toppers Galle Gladiators in the eighth league fixture of the Lanka Premier League 2021 at Colombo’s R.Premadasa Stadium on December 10.

The Gladiators, occupying the numero uno spot with four points in three games, enter this contest after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Kandy Warriors, against whom chasing 144 for the win, they crossed the line with four wickets and as many balls to spare in a tense chase.

Ahmed Shehzad’s 51-ball 56 had taken the Warriors to 143/6, chasing which a sudden flurry of wickets threatened to derail the Gladiators. Needing 26 off the last 14 deliveries, the seventh-wicket pair of Madushanka and Dhananjaya Lakshan joined hands to bail them out of trouble.

Danushka Gunathilaka’s 33-ball 45 was responsible to keep them in the hunt at the start, before identical 13-ball 22-run cameos from Bhanuka Rajapakse and Madushanka took them close. With the ball, it was once again Samit Patel, who troubled the opposition, picking 3/13.

As for the Giants, who currently sit at the third spot tied on points but separated by net run rate with their rivals, they come after an 18-run win over Colombo Stars. The Giants posted a daunting 195/6 – the highest total in the season so far – on the back a scintillating 34-ball 62 from opener Philip Salt and Najibullah Zadran’s 54 off 40 before the bowlers restricted their opponents.

Match Details

Match – Dambulla Giants vs Galle Gladiators – Match 8

Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Time – 07:30 PM IST

Where to watch live – Sony Six, Sony LIV

Pitch report

After a couple of high-scoring games on the opening day, the following fixtures recorded low scores on sluggish surfaces. However, the last two games witnessed consecutive high-scoring encounters on a fresh track.

Average score: 157 (in LPL 2021 games so far)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 3, Lost – 4, N/R – 0

Probable Playing XIs

Galle Gladiators 

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

Dambulla Giants

Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Philip Salt, Dilshan Munaweera, Sohaib Maqsood Dasun Shanaka (c), Najibullah Zadran, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir

Probable top performers

Philip Salt is currently the top scorer of the tournament, with 139 runs at 46.33 and a strike rate of 190.41, including two match-winning half-centuries.

Samit Patel is currently the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with six scalps from three games at a staggering economy rate of 4.41. His spell thus far read: 3/21, 0/19, 3/13.

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.