Big picture
So, after 20 group-stage matches, an Eliminator and two Qualifiers, we’ve finally arrived at the culmination of this year’s Lanka Premier League. And it’s once again those two, Galle Gladiators and Jaffna Kings, vying for top spot, in a repeat of last year’s final.
En route, Kings have pretty much trounced nearly every team they’ve played, while Gladiators have been less polished, but are crucially the only team to have beaten Kings – three times all up, including in the first Qualifier.
Suffice to say, there might be a slight psychological edge in Gladiators’ favour going into this final, but if you’re the Kings you got to be feeling that the law of averages is about to come down hard in your favour.
So, if there are any clues as to how this match might go, a brief analysis of their three encounters might help.
That game though had a caveat; while the top six were still their primary options, there was still a fair bit of rotation, with Wanindu Hasaranga in particular a big miss. The pitch too was unpleasant for the batters.
The bowlers, particularly the slingy Nuwan Thushara, then ran roughshod over the Kings batters, with only Rahmanullah Gurbaz showing any fight. And so, for the third time in as many matches against Gladiators, Kings’ batters failed to turn up.
Yet, as we head into the final, it’s hard to look back at these games as anything other than blips; Kings have been by far the most impressive side this LPL, in the field, and with bat and ball. They will rightly head in as favourites, but against Gladiators, a side that has shown they have the weapons to hurt them, they have been found conspicuously wanting time and again. As they say, something’s gotta give.
Form guide
(Most recent results first)
Jaffna Kings: WLLWW
Galle Gladiators: WWWLL
In the spotlight
It would be easy to pinpoint the likes of Avishka Fernando, who just plundered the first century of the LPL, or Kusal Mendis who lies second in the run-scoring charts. However, the shift to Hambantota for the playoffs and final, where the pitches have so far been truer, it’s safe to assume that both sides’ batters will continue to have the best of proceedings. This game, therefore, is likely to be decided by the respective bowling units.
Seales didn’t play in the first Qualifier but starred with 3 for 24 in the second. It’s hard to see him missing out on the final. Theekshana, meanwhile, will have a vital role to play in curbing the likes of Mendis and Gunathilaka at the top of the innings.
Team news
Don’t expect to see too much by way of change. Ashan Randika got himself a game last time, but it’s likely the Kings will opt to bring back Ashen Bandara, due to his excellence in the field as much as his useful lower order hitting.
Jaffna Kings (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 4 Ashen Bandara, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Thisara Perera, 7 Chaturanga de Silva, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Jayden Seales, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Maheesh Theekshana
The Gladiators will likely feel remiss to change a winning combination, so barring injuries expect the same team to take the field as last time out.
Galle Gladiators (probable): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Anwar Ali, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa(c), 6 Samit Patel, 7 Isuru Udana, 8 Pulina Tharanga, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Nuwan Thushara, 11 Mohammad Amir
Pitch and conditions
We’ve only had three games in Hambantota so far, and each has held very few demons for the batters. There has been bounce for bowlers willing to hit the deck, with the odd ball moving off the seam, but for the most part the ball has come on to the bat.