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          Galle Gladiators vs Jaffna Stallions, final LPL 2020, Fantasy Pick, team predictions

          • Rahul Maniraja
          Dec 15, 2020, 07:02 AM

          Dec 16: Galle Gladiators vs Jaffna Stallions, Hambantota

          Pro Tip: Top run-scorer Danushka Gunathilaka and top wicket-taker Wanindu Hasaranga should be your first picks. Back experienced and big game players.

          Our XI: Azam Khan, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Mohammad Amir, Lakshan Sandakan, Avishka Fernando, Johnson Charles, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva

          Substitutes: Usman Shinwari, Shoaib Malik, Nuwan Thusara, Ahsan Ali.

          Player availability: Shahid Afridi of Galle Gladiators will be the only non-available player for this final. 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: Wanindu Hasaranga

          The young legspinner has been the most prolific bowler in the tournament so far with 16 wickets, has the best economy with 5.27 and also has the best average with 10.87 (minimum two overs bowled). He has not gone wicketless yet which makes him the safest choice for captaincy. Nobody has scored more than him in death overs, 107 runs in 58 balls at a strike rate of 184.48.

          Vice-captain: Danushka Gunathilaka

          Gunathilaka is leaps and bounds ahead of all other batsmen in the league, scoring 475 runs in nine games at an average of 67.85 and a strike rate of 145.25. He has made four 50-plus scores so far and his only low score came in the last game against the Kings.

          Hot Picks

          Avishka Fernando: One of the most impressive young batsmen from Sri Lanka, Fernando has been in splendid form with the bat scoring 248 runs in seven innings at an average of 41.33 and a strike rate of 137.01 in LPL 2020. He is also the joint leading six hitter with 18 sixes.

          Bhanuka Rajapaksa: 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 scoring 101 runs in 59 balls in the last three innings.

          Mohammad Amir: Amir is LPL 2020's joint-most prolific pacer with ten wickets in nine games at an average of 25.80 and a strike rate of 20.4. He is the only bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the tournament. He picked up a six-wicket haul in a knockout game in BPL 2019.

          Differential Picks

          Dhananjaya Lakshan: The fast bowler who is joint with Amir, Lakshan also has ten wickets in six innings at an average of 18.90 and a strike rate of 13.2. He is yet to go wicketless in the tournament. A good show with the ball (4-0-27-2) and a match winning 23-ball 31 not out in the semi-finals earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

          Dhananjaya de Silva: The Sri Lankan allrounder has been good in parts but has the potential to make bigger impact. His bowling against Dambulla Viiking (4-0-23-1) was instrumental in helping his side to reach the final. He might get to bat up the order in the finals.

          Alternate Scenarios

          • Usman Shinwari can replace Lakshan Sandakan

          • Ahsan Ali and Azam Khan can be swapped