B-Love Kandy
Jaffna Kings
The third-placed team (B-Love Kandy) and the fourth-placed team (Jaffna Kings) will be facing off against each other in the eliminator game of the Lanka Premier League 2023 season. The team winning this match will play the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2, whereas the team losing this match will have to go home.
The match is predicted to be a thriller in every sense of the word, and both teams will have to bring their best in all three departments. The match will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
B-Love Kandy dominated the Jaffna Kings in both league matches this season. They won the first match by 8 wickets and the second one by 8 runs. Different players have stepped up for the Kandy-based franchise in every match, and hence they have reached here easily. For the Jaffna-based franchise, the marquee players have failed to perform, but the younger players have done the job, which has made them reach this point.
On a deteriorating Colombo pitch, the spinners will have a huge role to play in this match. It is going to be a battle between the spinners of one team and the batters of the other. The top bookmakers in India have amazing odds for LPL 2023 with them.
B-Love KandyJaffna KingsCaptain Wanindu Hasaranga has led his team in an exceptional manner this season. He has led the way for the players by performing himself and stepping up for the team in difficult situations. Dinesh Chandimal and Mujeeb ur Rahman were brought back into the playing 11 in the previous game, and we think they will keep their place.
Dushmantha Chameera could replace Chaturanga de Silva in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Mohammad Haris, Fakhar Zaman, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews, Ashen Bandara, Asif Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Isuru Udana, Chaturanga de Silva/Dushmantha Chameera, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Nuwan Pradeep
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been the team’s best batter in this tournament. He has scored the majority of the runs for the Jaffna Kings this season, and he will play a very important role in the elimination match on Thursday.
Asela Gunaratne replaced Charith Asalanka in the last match, but we think Asalanka will be back in the playing 11 for this very important knockout game.
Predicted Lineup: Nishan Madhushka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Chris Lynn, Charith Asalanka, David Miller, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madhushanka, and Nuwan Thushara
We anticipate the Hasaranga-led side to win this match against the Perera-led side and confirm their berth for the Qualifier 2 match against one of Dambulla Aura or Galle Titans. B-Love Kandy has been a better team than the Jaffna Kings this season and has looked more threatening.
The Jaffna Kings are supposed to put up a tough fight against Kandy, but we don’t think they will be able to beat them.
