Cricket Match Prediction | Hambantota Bangla Tigers vs Kandy Bolts | Lanka T10 Super League 2024 | Match 13 | Dec 15 – Can HBT dominate this game again?

HBT vs KB Match Analysis

Hambantota Bangla Tigers and Kandy Bolts will play each other in the Lanka T10 Super League 2024 13th Match on December 15, 2024, at 04:30 PM BST at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. 

The Hambantota Bangla Tigers currently sit in second place on the points table, having earned four points from four matches. With one win and one loss to their name, they secured a 7-wicket victory over the Nuwara Eliya Kings in their most recent game. Kusal Perera was impressed with a quickfire, 33 runs off 15 balls, while Richard Gleeson starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 23 runs.

The Kandy Bolts have completed just one match so far, which they lost, as their other three games were abandoned due to rain. In their sole outing, Dinesh Chandimal shone with a blistering 66 off 25 balls, while Imad Wasim chipped in with two wickets. However, the Bolts fell short, losing the game by seven wickets.

HBT vs KB Team Preview & Squads

Hambantota Bangla Tigers

For the Hambantota Bangla Tigers, Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera will open the innings. Perera, known for his turbo-aggressive style, bounced back from a golden duck in the first game to score a blistering 33 off 15 deliveries in the second. He holds a strike rate of 131 in T20Is, making him a dangerous player at the top. Shahzad, despite failing to score in the last match, has a T20 strike rate of 132, making him a strong option as an opener. Skipper Dasun Shanaka is set to bat at number three and remains the team’s leading run-scorer. He smashed a 16-ball half-century in the first game and followed it up with a quick 20 off 10 balls against the Nuwara Eliya Kings. Shanaka is undoubtedly the player to watch.

In the middle order, Shevon Daniel will join forces with Sabbir Rehman and Tharindu Ratnayake. Daniel contributed 17 off 12 balls in the last game, while Rehman played a vital knock of 11 runs to secure the Tigers’ 7-wicket victory. However, with Rehman’s T20 strike rate of 120 and a lack of experience across the middle order, this area could be a potential weakness against the Kandy Bolts.

On the bowling front, Richard Gleeson will spearhead the attack alongside Dhananjaya Lakshan and Isuru Udana. Gleeson was outstanding in the last match, claiming three wickets, and is expected to be a key player once again. Udana, with 27 T20I wickets at an economy of under 9, brings valuable experience to the side. Additionally, his batting strike rate of 137 adds depth to the lower order, making him a reliable all-rounder.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers Squads

Hambantota Bangla Tigers

Mohammad Shahzad, Dushmantha Chameera, Karim Janat, Richard Gleeson, Dasun Shanaka, Sahan Arachchige, Tharindu Ratnayake, Soumya Sarkar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Hazratullah Zazai, Brian Bennett, Nishan Peiris, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Isuru Udana, and Chamath Gomez. 

Kandy Bolts

The Kandy Bolts have had limited opportunities to showcase their skills, as all their matches since their first-game loss have been washed out by rain. Nissanka, with 1,595 T20I runs at a strike rate of 119, scored a quick 26 off 11 balls in their only game so far. At number three, George Munsey will take the crease. The Scottish batter boasts an impressive T20I strike rate of 144 across 73 matches, making him a key player for the Bolts.

Dinesh Chandimal is expected to be the standout performer. In their sole match, he hammered a spectacular 66 off 25 balls, smashing seven fours and five sixes. Skipper Thisara Perera will anchor the middle order. A seasoned T20 specialist, Perera has a T20I strike rate of 151 and has taken 51 wickets in 67 innings. The team will also rely heavily on all-rounder Seekuge Prasanna, who combines a T20I batting strike rate of over 130 with a tidy bowling economy of under 8.

Imad Wasim will lead the bowling attack alongside Danal Hemananda, Ronsford Beaton, and Chaturanga de Silva. Wasim claimed two wickets in their last outing and has 73 wickets in 75 T20Is at an exceptional economy rate of 6.2. He will be the Bolts’ key weapon with the ball.

Kandy Bolts Squads

Kandy Bolts

Chandrapaul Hemraj, Pathum Nissanka, Saim Ayub, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Shahnawaz Dahani, Amir Hamza, Imad Wasim, Seekkuge Prasanna, Arinesto Vezha, Milinda Siriwardana, George Munsey, Chamika Gunasekara, and Chaturanga de Silva.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers vs Kandy Bolts outfield report 

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

In T10, teams have easily chased the target four times out of five. The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is predicted to see cloudy conditions with temperatures between 27 and 32 degrees Celsius on the day of the match. Its specialty is belters, where batsmen can play through the line on wickets that are evenly spaced. On the other hand, spinners have gained popularity recently.   

HBT vs KB Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

They will play this series for the first time.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers vs Kandy Bolts Prediction

Cricket analysts predict the Hambantota Bangla Tigers have a 59% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.