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Rival captains in key clash: Dasun Shanaka (Galle Titans) and Thisara Perera (Jaffna Kings)
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
The fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) moves into its second phase with eight matches spread over five days due to take place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium commencing today.
The key match in the double header will be the second game between current table leaders Galle Titans and defending champions Jaffna Kings due to commence at 7:30 p.m.
In the first segment of matches played at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Galle Titans emerged as the team to beat winning both their matches and gaining maximum points.
Smarting from their defeat at the hands of Dambulla Aura, a game where they were outplayed in all departments, Jaffna will want to pull one back and get back into a winning streak which has made them the most dominant side in the three-year history of the tournament. However on this occasion, there are several other teams wanting to end Jaffna’s domination and lay their hands on the LPL trophy for the first time. Galle is one of them from the way they have begun.
Dambulla would have gained a lot of confidence over their win against Jaffna and will want to carry their excellent showing into their game against B-Love Kandy which will be the first match of the double-header today commencing at 3 p.m.
Kandy, the only team of the five in the LPL without a win after the Colombo leg games, will be keen to put some points on the board. Their performances so far have been rather under par despite the presence of experienced stars like former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal and current white ball players skipper Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Kamindu Mendis, ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder Isuru Udana and overseas players Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Asif Ali.
