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Seeking to defend their Lanka Premier League title, the Kandy Falcons are in real strife with two games of the league stage to go as they take on a Jaffna Kings side that are on the verge of sealing their spot in the top two.
DATE & TIME: Saturday 13th July, 2024: USA ET – 7:00am / USA PT – 10:00am / UK – 3:00pm / South Africa – 4:00pm / Pakistan – 7:00pm / India – 7:30pm / Sri Lanka – 7:30pm / Bangladesh – 8:00pm / Sunday 14th July, 2024: Australia – 12:00am
VENUE: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
WEATHER: 28c or 82.4 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: UNDERPERFORMING CHAMPIONS
The Kandy Falcons, captained by last season’s tournament top run scorer and leading wicket taker Wanindu Hasaranga, began their season quite well with an impressive six-wicket defeat of the Dambulla Sixers in the opening game of this competition but since then the Falcons have managed just one victory with four defeats in their five matches.
LAST THREE: LWL
JAFFNA KINGS FORM: KINGS COULD CONQUER
The Jaffna Kings head into their seventh match of the 2024 Lanka Premier League sitting at the top-of-the-table and, almost in direct contradiction to Kandy, began with a defeat before winning four of their next five matches. A few of their games have been extremely tight but, if anything, they are actually growing into the tournament and getting better as they go.
LAST THREE: WLW
KANDY FALCONS BETTING ANALYSIS
The aforementioned Wanindu Hasaranga endured a poor ICC T20 World Cup as captain of Sri Lanka and his form in this tournament has been hit and miss, too. They have been reliant on two former national team captains, Dnesh Chandimal and Dasun Shanaka, for performances and Chandimal actually currently sits fourth in the leading run scorers in this season’s tournament. Chandimal has scored at a strike rate of 183, too, so up against a Jaffna side that have conceded 410 runs in their last two matches, including 230-3 against Jaffna, backing Chandimal to score 30+ seems a good bet.
With the ball, Shanaka has impressed and he took 3-40 in that aforementioned clash with Jaffna the other day. The most potent threats, though, should be both Kamindu Mendis and Ramesh Mendis, who only bowled five overs between them in that game where they conceded a first innings total of 224. Ramesh Mendis, in particular, bowled extremely well to dismiss both Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw so him to take a further two or more wickets in this match would be a good shout.
JAFFNA KINGS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Jaffna Kings started slowly with an explosive top order that should have been reliant on Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw actually initially being carried by Pathum Nissanka, who scored 119 in that game against Kandy, Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka. Nissanka is the man in form at the moment and whilst it seems simple to back the absolute best, they are the best at the moment for a reason and the opener to go big again as the Kings’ top scorer in the match seems likely.
With the ball, the Kings have a lot of variation but not a single one of their bowlers went for less than ten runs per over against Kandy. It is pace off and variation that will look to stifle Kandy’s line-up, though, and that should therefore fall on the shoulders of Azmatullah Omarzai with the Afghan all-rounder being their best bowler in the match a tempting bet.
KANDY FALCONS VS JAFFNA KINGS EXPERT PREDICTION
As mentioned a few times, these two played out the highest scoring match in the tournament with Kandy Falcons hitting 230-3 in 18.2 overs to chase down 224-7 set by Jaffna in Dambulla. That, though, was a game whereby everything went right for the defending champions and they have lost all of their other games since the opening match. Jaffna will trust their process and extremely impressive top six to respond and react well by winning the return match.
KANDY FALCONS VS JAFFNA KINGS TOP TIP: JAFFNA KINGS TO WIN