KDW vs CLS Match Preview
Andre Fletcher, who is the leading run-scorer for the Falcons this season, got out cheaply in the previous match but Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis once again came to the rescue, putting up a 61-run partnership to stabilize the innings.
Ashen Bandara had been pretty consistent with his batting in the league stage and is someone you can consider for your Dream11 team as well. All eyes will be on Braithwaite and Fletcher in Qualifier-2 as they have been instrumental in getting the team so far in the competition.
Chamika Karunaratne has emerged as a reliable all-rounder this season and he too will play an important part.
Dinesh Chandimal, along with Mathews and Bopara, has been the pick of the batsmen for the Stars. However, the others, including Nishan Madushka, Niroshan Dickwella, and Charith Asalanka have failed to have a significant impact on the proceedings.
The bowling effort to has been pretty average so far. The Stars have tried as many as 16 bowling options throughout the series but none of the bowlers have been consistent enough for them.
Weather Report
The temperature will remain in the mid-20s on Thursday and humidity is expected to remain above 90%.
Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium has a flat pitch which is likely to aid the batsmen. The consistent and even bounce will make it easy to play the shots. However, it has been raining in Colombo and there is a lot of cloud cover due to which we might see some assistance for the seam bowlers.
Notable stats
Fabian Allen’s Economical Bowling
Fabian Allen has been pretty economical given the fact that the T20 format is more conducive for the batsmen. In the last 8 matches, Fabian Allen has bowled at an economy rate of 5.66 and has also picked up 10 wickets.
Team News
While the Stars are coming into this match on the back of a victory, the Falcons have a balanced team. Therefore, we do not see either of them making any changes to the team for this game.
KDW vs CLS Probable 11
KDW Playing 11
- Pathum Nissanka
- Andre Fletcher (Wk)
- Kamindu Mendis
- Ashen Bandara
- Najibullah Zadran
- Wanindu Hasaranga (C)
- Carlos Brathwaite
- Chamika Karunaratne
- Fabian Allen
- Chamindu Wijesinghe
- Isuru Udana
CLS Playing 11
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Angelo Matthews (C)
- Charith Asalanka
- Ravi Bopara
- Nishan Madushka (Wk)
- Benny Howell
- Mohammad Nabi
- Dominic Drakes
- Kasun Rajitha
- Jeffrey Vandersay
- Suranga Lakmal
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing the Kandy Falcons to win this one. They have already defeated the Stars twice this season and have a pretty balanced side at this stage. On the other hand, the bowling for the Stars has been pretty average and they are likely to struggle against the solid batting line-up of the Falcons.
Top Picks
Angelo Mathews: Matthews has scored 230 runs in the last 9 matches with an average of 46.00 and a strike rate of 125.68. He has also scored a half-century this season.
Chamika Karunaratne: Chamika Karunaratne has proved to be an excellent all-rounder for the Falcons. In the last 9 matches, he has picked up 7 wickets and has also scored 103 runs at a strike rate of 166.12.
Kamindu Mendis: In his last 8 innings, Kamindu Mendis has scored 237 runs at an average of 33.85, including 2 half-centuries.
KDW vs CLS Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: A Fletcher
Batters: A Mathews, K Mendis, P Nissanka
All-rounders: C Brathwaite (C), F Allen, B Howell, W Hasaranga
Bowlers: K Rajitha, C Karunaratne (VC), D Drakes
