PSL Tips Matches 17 & 18: Rain may ruins Rawalpindi runs charge

• Both teams for 220 incoming

• Pindi surface has been flat

• More than 200 at 3.25 on the Exchange

Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars
Saturday 3 March, 09.00
TV: Live on Sky734

Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars best bets

The tournament has moved to Rawalpindi and we should expect there is a good chance of monster run totals on what has been a flat surface.

There have been 12 PSL matches played at the venue. Five of them saw both teams notch 200 and three recorded both teams hitting 220. Surprisingly only five have been won by the side batting first, highlighting what a road it has been.

Weather could play spoilsport. According to the BBC, there's at least a 70% chance of rain throughout the day. That impacts the second match which follows.

Sportsbook go 2/13.00 and 9/25.50 respectively for both to score 190 and 200. The 22/123.00 that both teams score 220 is a wager we have been waiting for. Clearly on the study sample these prices should be skinnier. The markets will be void unless 80% of the overs across the match are bowled.

For innings runs plays on the exchange, more than 200 in the first dig could be available at 3.259/4. That has occurred seven times. More than 220 is likely to be 8.07/1. Bets stanbd regardless of overs reductions.

As far as the match odds go, Zalmi look fair favourites at 1.865/6. Lahore have collapsed and are yet to win in six. They need four wins from four, a net run rate boost and hope results elsewhere are kind to have a chance of the play-offs.

Zalmi beat them by eight runs earlier in the season, defending 211. It's a head-to-head which serves to boost our hopes of big runs.

We will keep faith with Fakhar Zaman for a top-bat win. No wins in six is a remarkable return for a guy who was winning 38% of the time in the last two tournaments. He has been boosted on Sportsbook to [16/5.

Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators
Saturday 3 March, 14:00
TV: Live on Sky734

Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators best bets

We will take our lead for this one from what happens in the first match of the day. With this clash also at Pindi, we will keep faith with the runs strategies but try to be a little cannier.

If the 220 both teams ploy has not worked in game one we go in again with Sportsbook likely to offer the same price. If it has worked then we don't need to play a second time.

In the latter scenario (if we're going to get a full game) we will stick with a straight first-innings runs bet at that 3.259/4 mark for 200 or more to be busted.

United are marginal favourites at 1.9210/11 by dint of a win last time out against Kings. Quetta, by contrast, were well beaten by Sultans. It was a loss which had been coming after four consecutive wins. One more win for Quetta, however, should confirm a play-off spot.

In-play we will keep in mind that the surface has a history of remaining flat and true. The team batting second could be as big as 3.002/1 at the break. At the least we can see this trading at even money.

Colin Munro has been boosted to 10/34.33 for top United bat with Sportsbook but he won last time out. Jason Roy's excellent form continues and he has been upped to 7/24.50.

We've had a couple of interests in Imad Wasim at big prices for United. His run rate has been strong in the past. But on a flat one like this the catching up that could be required feels too much of a risk, even if he is 45/146.00.

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