Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The defending champions, the Kandy Falcons, continue their 2024 Lanka Premier League campaign against arguably the most well-rounded squad in the competition in the Colombo Strikers as they seek to exact revenge on their opponents.
DATE & TIME: Saturday 6th 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: 31c or 87.8 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
KANDY FALCONS FORM: RECOVERING FROM DEFEAT
The Kandy Falcons, defending their LPL title, began with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Dambulla Sixers in Pallekele on opening night with the Falcons chasing 180 in just 17.2 overs. After that, though, they suffered a fairly heavy hammering at the hands of the Colombo Strikers, being bowled out for 147 in 15.5 overs.
LAST THREE: LWW
COLOMBO STRIKERS FORM: STRENGTH IN DEPTH
In that other game between these two sides the other day, the Colombo Strikers hit the highest total of the tournament so far with 198-7 in their 20 overs before enjoying a 51-run victory. However, they then suffered a seven-run loss to the Galle Marvels in their second match, falling frustratingly short of the 180 target.
LAST THREE: LWL
KANDY FALCONS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Falcons have thus far been reliant on the excellent and experienced Dinesh Chandimal. The former Sri Lanka captain has top scored for them in both games so far so backing that to happen in three successive matches is reasonable but there will be an expectation that out of form Wanindu Hasaranga comes to the party and there were signs in his 25 off 14 against Colombo so backing the skipper to be their best bat seems a good bet for this one.
As for the ball, Hasaranga himself, who finished as the top run scorer and leading wicket taker in the 2023 season, is always a figure that heavily influences competitions and if the Falcons are to win then backing Hasaranga to be the Player of the Match may well provide some good value.
COLOMBO STRIKERS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Colombo Strikers have the recent 2024 ICC T20 World Cup top run scorer Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top of the order but it is the depth in their battling line-up, featuring Sadeera Samarawickrama, captain Thisara Perera as well as all-rounders Shadab Khan and Chamika Karunaratne that will frighten opposition. That said, it is always a safe bet to back Gurbaz to be a team’s top run scorer.
With the ball, both Dunith Wellalage and Shadab Khan took four wickets for few runs in the defeat against Kandy the other day and that mental edge provides good reason to back either or both taking two or more wickets in this encounter, too.
KANDY FALCONS VS COLOMBO STRIKERS EXPERT PREDICTION
Kandy Falcons are the defending champions but Colombo Strikers came into the tournament as the favourites with many experts for this season. Both sides have started with a comfortable victory and a slender defeat in their opening matches and appear evenly matched so perhaps the top tip here will be to avoid the match result and side with something a little more niche based on more of a hunch, such as gambling on the Falcons to come out on top and their skipper to indeed be the best player on the day.
KANDY FALCONS VS COLOMBO STRIKERS TOP TIP: WANINDU HASARANGA TO BE PLAYER OF THE MATCH