Pakistan Super League Matches 26 and 27: Now or never for Lahore

Click here for Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators
Friday 17 April, 15.00
TV: Live on Willow/Tapmad/Ary

Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators PSL Tips

Lahore have got to start winning now if they are to break into the play-offs. They have lost three from five including their last two in what has been a chaotic season.

Despite boasting all the ability and good balance, the warning signs were there when Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza were carpeted for breaking security protocol. Fakhar Zaman was then banned for two matches for ball tampering. There is often a side which badly underperforms in this tournament due to poor culture. And it is often Lahore. It won't be a huge surprise if the slide continues.

Last time out against leaders Zalmi they were bang in the game at the break chasing 173. But they collapsed to a pathetic 97 all out. 

They have lost Parvez Hossain, the opener, to injury and Rubin Hermann, the South African, was ditched after two games. Raza and Afridi look a spot too high at Nos 4 and 7 respectively. 

The good news for Lahore is that Quetta are also on the slide on the same number of points. They were hammered by Zalmi in their previous outing. Their lack of batting relaibility and power is hurting them and only Hassan Nawaz has any sort of data behind him to suggest he belongs at this level. Saud Shakeel is disappointing.

The Karachi surface has been tricky at times, as one would expect on a surface which has had significant wear and tear. This is the twelfth game played on it. With both sides struggling with the willow. Four of the last five have seen first-innings scores of under 160. 

Both sides have their total match runs pitched at 167.5. Quetta are slightly less reliable and we recognise the potency of Afridi with the ball so we'll take that bet. 

We are not ruling out late-order top- bat winners given the form of these sides. For Lahore Usama Mir and Haris Rauf have appeal at 70s and 100. Jahandad Khan catches the eye at 22s for Quetta. 

Click here for Lahore Qalandars v Rawalpindi Pindiz odds
Saturday 18 April, 15.00
TV: Live on Willow/Tapmad/Ary

Lahore Qalandars v Rawlpindi Pindiz PSL Tips

This is a great opportunity for Lahore to go back-to-back if they beat Quetta. Pindiz have disgraced themselves with six defeats in six, the nadir coming against Hyderabad last time out. Hyderabad had also struggled badly but had no worries despatching the Pindiz challenge.

Pindiz managed only 121 batting first and the immediate strategy will be to play unders on their runs if the toss allows. Extremes will be the way to go again, hitting under 100-130. 

Another strategy will be to play the lower Pindiz order for top bats. Sam Billings won last time with 26 from No 6, his second success in the last three. Saad Masood won from No 7 between those two wins.  Just below Billings are also Mubasir Khan and Asif Afridi who are more than capable of a 20-odd to win the market.

There is nothing to beat from the top order as Pindiz appear to be intent on launching a vetrean's XI. T20 is a young thruster's game so Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khawaja and Daryl Mitchell in three of the top four is not working out. 

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