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          Colombo Kings vs Galle Gladiators, 1st semi-final, LPL 2020, Fantasy Pick, team predictions

          • Rahul Maniraja
          Dec 12, 2020, 01:23 PM

          Dec 13: 1st semi-final - Colombo Kings vs Galle Gladiators, Hambantota

          Pro Tip: The Kings' skipper Angelo Mathews and top run-scorer Laurie Evans are both injured, while the Gladiators have found their form at the right time, wining two of their last three games. Make sure to pick at least five players from each side.

          Our XI: Dinesh Chandimal, Azam Khan, Laurie Evans, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Danushka Gunathilaka, Andre Russell, Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmad, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohammad Amir, Dhananjaya Lakshan

          Substitutes: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Ashan Priyanjan, Ahsan Ali, Lakshan Sandakan

          Player availability: Evans and Mathews are both doubtful. Gladiators will miss the services of Shahid Afridi again. We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates, so please finalise your team after the toss.

          Captain: Danushka Gunathilaka

          Gunathilaka is leaps and bounds ahead of all other batsmen in the league, scoring 462 runs in eight games at an average of 77.00 and a strike rate of 144.82. He has made four 50-plus scores and his lowest score is 30 not out.

          Vice-captain: Laurie Evans

          The only centurion in LPL 2020, Evans has been in sensational form with the bat. He is the second leading run-scorer with 289 runs in eight games at an average of 57.80 and a strike rate of 170. He has also hit the most number of sixes - 18. But remember about his injury.

          Hot Picks

          Andre Russell: One of the premier allrounders in the league, Russell has been blowing hot and cold with the bat in the tournament, scoring 158 runs in seven games. However, he has been with the ball, picking up eight wickets at the tournament's best strike rate of 9.7. If Evans doesn't play this game, Russell can be the vice-captain pick.

          Mohammad Amir: Amir is LPL 2020's most prolific pacer with ten wickets in eight games at an average of 23.20 and a strike rate of 18. He is the only bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the tournament.

          Qais Ahmad: Ahmad has certainly turned heads in the tournament with some brilliant all-round performance. He is the second leading wicket taker with 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 15.27 and a strike rate of 14.1. He also scored a match-winning 22-ball 50* in the last league game while chasing, where he hit five sixes in the last seven balls he faced.

          Differential Picks

          Isuru Udana: Udana has had a mediocre season so far, picking up five wickets in seven games. However, in this crucial knockout game, back him to deliver.

          Bhanuka Rajapaksha:The stand-in captain for the Gladiators started the season poorly and was nowhere near his best. However, he did find form at the business end of the tournament with his last two scores being an unbeaten 24-ball 37 not-out and an 18-ball 31.

          Alternate Scenarios

          • If Evans is not fit, then Kings' allrounder Ashan Priyanjan can replace him.