Mark your calendars for an exciting showdown as Galle Titans take on Dambulla Aura in the 2nd match of LPL T20 on Monday, 31st July 2023. The action-packed cricket match will be held at the renowned R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Don’t miss this thrilling encounter!

Galle Gladiators have undergone a transformation and are now known as Galle Titans, accompanied by some significant changes in their squad. Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been entrusted with the leadership role for the Titans. While their batting order shows promise, it might not be as formidable as some others in the league. Chad Bowes will be leading the charge, supported by Lasith Croospulle, Shevon Daniel, and Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Interestingly, they have opted for six wicketkeeper-batsmen in their lineup for this edition of LPL T20, including Minod Bhanuka, Sohan de Livera, Mohammad Mithun, Avishka Perera, and Tim Seifert.

The team boasts an impressive array of T20 cricket’s finest all-rounders such as Ben Cutting, Dasun Shanaka, Shakib Al Hasan, Ashan Priyanjan, and Sonal Dinusha, who will play crucial roles in both batting and bowling departments.

Acknowledging their previous weaknesses in the bowling unit, Galle Titans have bolstered their bowling options. Akila Dananjaya will spearhead the bowling attack, with support from Anuk Fernando, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lahiru Samarakoon, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Mohammad Shiraz.

Overall, Galle Titans appear to have built a well-balanced team for this edition of LPL T20, and expectations are high for a better performance compared to their previous showing in the tournament. Fans eagerly anticipate witnessing the Titans’ improved results and spirited display in the competition.

In the previous edition of the Lanka Premier League, Dambulla Aura faced a challenging run, ending as the worst-performing team. As a result, they’ve made significant changes to their squad for the upcoming tournament.

The top batting order of Dambulla Aura is a formidable force. Avishka Fernando will lead the charge, supported by Alex Ross and Matthew Wade. Adding to their strength, experienced batsmen Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Sadeera Samarawickrama will take charge of both the top and lower batting order for the team.

Contributing to the batting lineup are Dhananjaya de Silva, Ravindu Fernando, Hayden Kerr, Janith Liyanage, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Manelker De Silva, and Kavidu Lakshan.

One of Dambulla Aura’s strengths lies in their bowling unit, which boasts some of the best T20 bowlers from different cricketing nations. The team has enlisted the services of overseas bowlers like Noor Ahmad from Afghanistan, Lungi Ngidi from South Africa, Shahnawaz Dahani from Pakistan, and Treveen Mathew from Australia. Additionally, local Sri Lankan bowlers, including Jehan Daniel, Binura Fernando, Dushan Hemantha, Sachitha Jayathilake, Pramod Madushan, and Wanuja Sahan, add further depth and diversity to the bowling attack.

With their revamped squad and a wealth of bowling talent, Dambulla Aura aims to turn the tables and make a strong impression in the upcoming Lanka Premier League.

On paper, Galle Titans appear to be a stronger team compared to Dambulla Aura, making them the favorite to win this match according to our match prediction. Several key factors contribute to Galle Titans’ favoritism:

1. Galle Titans boast a robust team overall, surpassing Dambulla Aura in strength.
2. The batting order of Galle Titans is formidable, adding to their advantage.
3. Their bowling unit is also rich in talent, giving them an edge in this aspect of the game.
4. Dambulla Aura, on the other hand, has some of the best T20 overseas players, which could pose a challenge to Galle Titans.
5. Nevertheless, Galle Titans are still considered much stronger in the bowling department compared to Dambulla Aura.

Considering these factors, Galle Titans stand as the front-runners to secure a victory in this match. However, cricket is an unpredictable game, the actual outcome will be determined on the field, and anything can happen during the course of the game.

The Galle Titans feature a dynamic blend of seasoned veterans and talented young players, well-versed in the T20 format. Their batting order is bolstered by renowned T20 hitters, further increasing their prospects of winning today’s match. The match prediction equation is as follows:

Galle Titans hold a 56% chance of emerging victorious in this contest, while Dambulla Aura trails with a 44% chance of clinching the win.

The toss will significantly impact the outcome of every match in LPL T20, as evident from previous games. Based on toss predictions, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first, given the challenges faced while chasing in recent LPL matches.

The R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is set to host the 2nd match of the Lanka Premier League. The pitch at this venue offers a balanced challenge for both batting and bowling. Previous matches have revealed its suitability for batting, although it tends to slow down, providing significant assistance to spinners. Expectations are that the surface will further decelerate, making batting more challenging in this upcoming match. Consequently, chasing a score of 185 will be a tough task for any team.

The weather forecast for the cricket match in Colombo is unfavorable, with some chances of rain in the region. However, we remain optimistic that we will be able to witness a complete and enjoyable match.

Captain: Shakib al Hasan
Vice-Captain: Dhananjaya de Silva
Tim Seifert, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Noor Ahmad

• Date: Monday, 31st July 2023
• Time: 09:30 AM GMT / 03:00 PM LOCAL / 03:00 PM IST

• Stadium: R.Premadasa Stadium
• Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Opened: 1986
• Capacity: 35,000
• Known as: Khettarama Stadium (until June 1994)
• Ends: Khettarama End, Scoreboard End
• Time Zone: UTC +05:30
• Home to: Sri Lanka
• Floodlights: Yes

• Total matches: 55
• Matches won batting first: 23
• Matches won bowling first: 31
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 143
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 128
• Highest total recorded: 215/5 (19.4 Ov) by BAN vs SL
• Lowest total recorded: 80/10 (17.2 Ov) by AFG vs ENG
• The highest score chased: 215/5 (19.4 Ov) by BAN vs SL
• Lowest score defended: 115/6 (20 Ov) by RSA vs SL

Tim Seifert(w), Minod Bhanuka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Mohammad Mithun, Dasun Shanaka(c), Ben Cutting, Seekkuge Prasanna, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Ashan Priyanjan, Anuk Fernando, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lahiru Samarakoon, Lasith Croospulle, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Mohamed Shiraz, Shevon Daniel, Avishka Perera, Sohan de Livera, Chad Bowes.