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With a well rounded squad, the Colombo Strikers came into the tournament with high hopes but have shown how susceptible they can be, whilst the Jaffna Kings started with a defeat but now head into this one on the back of three successive victories.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday 10th July, 2024: USA ET – 2:30am / USA PT – 5:30am / UK – 10:30am / South Africa – 11:30am / Pakistan – 2:30pm / India – 3:00pm / Sri Lanka – 3:00pm / Bangladesh – 4:00pm / Australia – 7:30pm
VENUE: Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla, Sri Lanka
WEATHER: 32c or 89.6 F with clear skies
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 / Bangladesh – Not Available / Australia – Kayo Sports / Sri Lanka – Dialog TV
COLOMBO STRIKERS FORM: SLENDER MARGINS
The Colombo Strikers come into this one on the back of suffering two defeats in three matches with a seven-run loss to the Galle Marvels and an eight-wicket defeat to the Dambulla Sixers sandwiching a very slender two-run win against Kandy Falcons. That hammering at the hands of Dambulla, though, has set their NRR back and there will need to be a serious response here.
LAST THREE: LWL
JAFFNA KINGS FORM: A WINNING STREAK
Much like the Strikers, the Jaffna Kings have been involved in some thrilling matches. They began by losing off the final ball to Galle but then won off the final ball against Dambulla. After that, they enjoyed a slender victory against Galle to get their revenge before then hammering Dambulla with the highest score in the tournament so far, notching 218-5 in their 20 overs.
LAST THREE: WWW
COLOMBO STRIKERS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Colombo Strikers scored an impressive 198-7 in their opening match against the Kandy Falcons with Sadeera Samarawickrama top scoring with 48 from 26 balls. Their excellent batting line-up also includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Glenn Phillips but there is a fear they haven’t quite maximised their talents, especially Gurbaz, just yet. With the Strikers keen to score quickly in their next game, after being demolished by Dambulla in just 17.5 overs, Gurbaz will be key and the Afghan batter to score 30+ would be a good bet for that reason.
The Strikers have been reliant on pace bowlers to chip in with wickets but they do have the current leading wicket-taker in the tournament in Shadab Khan. The Pakistani all-rounder has taken just one wicket in his last two outings, though, so going with a paceman, notably Matheesha Pathirana, to take two or more wickets in the match would be the best bet.
JAFFNA KINGS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Jaffna Kings would count themselves as unfortunate not to have won all four of their matches so far with that final ball loss to Galle in their opening game. The Kings have had runs throughout their lineup in this tournament – even despite the two real big names Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw starting slowly. Mendis is yet to really go big, though, but it feels like a matter of time and backing a Mendis 50+ score and, potentially in this match, may be smart.
The variety to the Jaffna Kings bowling attack has been their success but the last game saw Tabraiz Shamsi really come to the party. In defence of a massive total, the South African spinner was given a bit more license to attack and repaid that with excellent figures of 2-26 in four overs. Shamsi to take two or more wickets against a strong and aggressive Colombo lineup also seems smart.
COLOMBO STRIKERS VS JAFFNA KINGS EXPERT PREDICTION
This has the potential to be a really high-scoring match and potentially the highest scoring match of the tournament. Colombo, who will be looking to go big, as mentioned, currently have a lowest score of 185, whilst the Jaffna Kings posted the first total of over 200 in the tournament last time. The opening partnership for both sides will be key with both keen to continue their promising signs with the bat. Whilst Gurbaz could be key for the Strikers, he isn’t in the best form so siding with Pathum Nissanka and the aforementioned Mendis to get Jaffna off to a rapid start would not be a longshot.
COLOMBO STRIKERS VS JAFFNA KINGS TOP TIP: JAFFNA KINGS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP