International League T20 Tips Matches 19 and 20: Can Sharjah continue play-off charge?

• Gulf Giants on the slide

• Knight Riders bottom of the pile

• Aayan Khan underrated for top bowler

• Sharjah making late charge

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders v Gulf Giants
Thursday 18 December, 14:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders v Gulf Giants ILT20 tips

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders remain bottom of the table despite their shock win over runaway leader Vipers by one run last time out. Gulf Giants are hanging on grimly to second spot in the ladder. Only one of them appears to be in a false position, however, and that is Giants.

They have lost two of their last three and some of their tactical decision-making has been questionable for some time. An 11-run loss against Sharjah followed a hammering by Desert Vipers. It was a poor defeat as they had the benefit of the Sharjah chase bias.

Moeen Ali is having a dreadful tournament and can probably take the lion's share of the blame for that one. In a chase of 175 his strike rate of 109 for his 45 kept them pressure on his team-mates. 

Unfortunately the match odds market is even less impressed by Giants and make ADKR hot favourites for this at a skeletal 1.774/5. No-one should ever consider backing such a franchise at such odds, particularly with no toss bias at the Abu Dhabi venue.

Our top-rated bet is following Aayan Khan for top Gulf Giants bowler at 5/16.00. We know Khan has a strong record on win rate having started the season returning on the market at 26%. He has won already this season. ADKR have had an issue against his brand of left-arm spin losing 12 wickets to that style in their last five games. It's disproprotionately high.

It is a worry that Giants underbowl Aayan, but that's some of the decision-making we referred to earlier. 

Sharjah Warriors v Dubai Capitals
Friday 19 December, 14.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sharjah Warriors v Dubai Capitals ILT20 tips

Sharjah could be timing their run to a play-off spot perfectly. They have won their last two impressively and with a game in hand sit two points off the top four. 

They have downed Giants and MI Emirates in their last two and seem to have been unaffected by the loss of Tim David to the Big Bash. The match odds market early show suggests they are going to off marginal outsiders at around the 2.206/5 mark and that could be of interest. We would prefer them to be chasing, however, as batting with the dew and lights has been easier.

There are player prices which may be of more interest. Sikandar Raza was promoted to No 3 last time so Sportsbook's [7/1] about top bat is noted. It is true he was upped with the platform already built and tasked with being reckless but the order still had a balanced look about it and Sharjah may stick with him there.

We also spot the 11/26.50 about Muhammad Jawadullah at 11/26.50 for top Dubai bowler. Dubai may have a plan to exclusively use Jawadullah as a death bowler so he could get cheap wickets at the end and pinch a win on fewest runs conceded in a dead heat.

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