December 1: Colombo Kings vs Dambulla Viiking, Hambantota
Pro Tip: The Colombo Kings have been the most impressive side so far, winning both their games, especially with Andre Russell finding form in the last game. Pick more players from the Kings' side.
Our XI: Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Paul Stirling, Laurie Evans, Andre Russell, Isuru Udana, Samit Patel, Dasun Shanaka, Ashan Priyanjan, Qais Ahmed, Lahiru Kumara
Substitutes: Upul Tharanga, Malinda Pushpakumara, Thikshila de Silva, Angelo Mathews
Player availability: The Kings' Ravinderpal Singh was tested positive for Covid-19 and is still not available for selection. Dambulla Viiking's Oshada Fernando is out for a week after suffering a foot injury. So, finalise your team after the toss.
Captain: Andre Russell
A rain-curtailed game helped Russell play his natural game and get his form back. His 19-ball 65 not out helped the Kings reach 96 in five overs. Russell has hit 455 sixes in 289 T20 innings, more than any other player in LPL 2020.
Vice-captain: Dinesh Chandimal
Chandimal last represented Sri Lanka in the shortest format in 2018. But he has 392 runs in the last two seasons of the domestic T20 competition at an average of 39.20 and a strike rate of 133.33. He started the tournament with a bang too, scoring a match-winning 46-ball 80.
Hot Picks
Dasun Shanaka: The Viiking skipper showed his capabilities in the first game with a match-winning 37-ball 73 which included eight fours and four sixes. His six-hitting ability - 129 sixes in 87 T20 innings - stands out among his peers. He showcased that in BPL 2019 too with a 31-ball 75, which included three fours and nine sixes. He is also handy with the ball and has 23 wickets in 43 T20 innings.
Paul Stirling: Stirling is one of the in-form players for the Viiking. He has played 17 T20s in 2020 and has scored 468 runs at an average of 31.20 and a strike rate of 156. He even scored a 47-ball 95 against a strong West Indies bowling line-up at the start of this year.
Qais Ahmed: Ahmed is one of the likeliest bowlers to get you a wicket. His stats in other leagues are: 19 wickets in 18 BBL games, six wickets in six BPL games and 14 wickets in 11 CPL games. He has picked up two wickets in two games in this tournament so far.
Differential Picks
Ashan Priyanjan: The Kings' allrounder Priyanjan surprised everyone with a spell of 1-0-1-1 in a five-over game a couple of nights back. In the 2020 SL domestic T20 tournament, he scored a 48-ball 90 and picked up 4 for 11 in the same game.
Lahiru Kumara: Kumara is more of a long-format specialist, but with 18 wickets at a strike rate of 16.8 and an economy rate of 7.56 from 15 T20s, it looks like he has what it takes to be successful in the shortest format as well.
Alternate Scenarios
de Silva's T20 career strike rate is 156.19 and he has hit 43 sixes in 43 innings. Since he bats up the order, he can be a replacement for Priyanjan.
If Stirling doesn't play, Tharanga can come in his place.