Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans PSL Tips: Big runs in the offing

Ed Hawkins
26 January 2022
2:30 min read

Rizwan is 7/2 for top match bat

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Ed Hawkins previews the first PSL clash from Karachi on Thursday - live on BT Sport at 14:00 UK time - and reminds punters of a toss bias...

"In the December T20 series West Indies posted 207 - and lost. More than 170 has been posted in 11 of the last 17" (2pts) Back over 165.5 1st inns runs 2.01/1

Karachi Kings v Multan Sultans
Thursday 27 January 14.00
TV: live on BT Sport

Kings bat heavy

Karachi are the 2020 winners and favourites for this season's title at 10/3. That pricing seems to be based purely on their batting superstar Babar Azam.

To be fair Babar leads an all-star batting cast but they are a classic case of a franchise piling resources into batting and then using what's left to plug gaps with the ball. Not wise in tournament where defending a target could be key.

They have added Chris Jordan with the ball and that's about it in that department. And one wonders whether his death rate could be the death of his franchise career. They are shorn of Ian Cockbain, Romario Shepherd and Jordan early doors because of pre-vious commitments. Mohammad Nabi could be available after missing Afghanistan's ODI series versus Netherlands.

Probable XI: Babar (17 boundary %), Sharjeel (22.3), Clarke (24.3), Imad (15.3), Gregory (15.3), Yamin, Umaid Asif, Amir, Ilyas, Ahsan

Read our PSL team-by-team guide here

Multan strong

The Sultans are the champions. They deserve more respect on the outright than 4/1 and should probably be the favourites.

Unlike Karachi, they have identified a weakness and added batting power. The pick-up of Tim David as a finisher is very shrewd. They already boast Mohammad Rizwan, a live top tournament bat runner, and Shahnawaz Dhani, last term's top wicket-taker.

They were the meanest team in the tournament in terms of bowling economy and their possible top six has a combined boundary percentage which puts them second on the ranking list.

Possible XI: Rizwan (16.76), Masood (16.1), Maqsood (23.1), Rossouw (20.0), Khushdil (18.4), David (16.3), Anwar, Abbas Afridi, Raees, Tahir, Dahani

Pitch report

The toss bias in Karachi is famous. In the last 26 PSL games at Karachi, 21 have been won by the chaser.

But that doesn't mean low scores. In the December T20 series West Indies posted 207 - and lost. More than 170 has been posted in 11 of the last 17.

We should be able to get long of first-innings runs on the par line at a minimum 165.5, possibly 167.5. Check Sportsbook prices for both teams for 160 or more. It's also worth taking big numbers for more than 190 on the exchange.

In-play chaser a bet

As you can perhaps tell by our team analysis above, we're not sweet on Karachi. Early prices suggest they could be going of favourites at around the 1.804/5 mark.

We'd be all over Multan if that price were to hold with the toss in their favour. The market will react, though.

However, it's a fickle market and with runs on the board it can forget about that toss bias. As we know the surface holds and a chaser can go after big scores. So there's plenty of in-play time and value for Multan if they bat second and get under the pump in the field.

Tops value

Babar and Rizwan, Pakistan's opening pair on opposing sides, have both been boosted to 9/4 for top bat for Karachi and Multan respectively with Sportsbook.

Shan Masood, our top-bat pick for Multan's series runscorer, is 7/2. Sportsbook have recognised their big rick on the former as he could open.

Prices which jump out are the 11/2 that Babar is man of the match. Rizwan is the same. And they are 10/3 and 7/2 respectively for top match bat. Bet on the side markets here.

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