Pakistan Super League Play-offs Tips: Outsiders United and Kingsmen can upset formbook

Click here for Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi odds
Tuesday 28 April, 15.00
TV: Live on Willow/Tapmad/Ary

Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi PSL Tips

The challenge for the dominant team in the franchise league is that once the play-offs start, they once again have to become accustomed with pressure. Zalmi haven't felt any for weeks. Indeed, they were not at their best in the meaingless game (for them anyway) against Lahore and were promptly beaten.

They face a confident Islamabad who won three of their last four to pip Multan Sultans to the all-important second spot in the ladder. The worry for Zalmi is that, like so many league leaders before them, they might have played fast and loose with momentum.

As ever, the loser gets a second bite at qualification for the final. The winner of the Hyderabad-Multan contest awaits.

United are 11/102.11 outsiders with the Betfair Sportsbook and even bigger at 2.285/4 on the Betfair Exchange. The latter looks to be worth a gamble. United are clearly the second-best outfit in the competition on net run rate and they have the meanest economy. That should serve them well with Zalmi reliant on Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis for runs. Those two have dominated at the expense of the rest getting meaningful crease time.

We're not hugely convinced that the Karachi pitch is as good as two matches on it on Sunday suggested. Up to that point there had been some very low scores. Going under the 181.5 on first-innings runs is an option, particularly with that mean United bowling line-up. Post-toss that line would rise if Zalmi were batting first.

We have been on lower-order top-bat wins in Karachi. The only price that sticks out, though, is Chris Green at 33s for top United batter. Imad Wasim, a long-time follow, is no longer a wrong price at the same given United's strange desire to keep him in the hutch. Babar is 13/27.50 for a man of the match award with the pressure on.

Click here for Multan Sultans v Hyderabad Kingsmen odds
Wednesday 28 April, 15:00
TV: Live on Willow/Tapmad/Ary

Multan Sultans v Hyderabad Kingsmen PSL Tips

Multan, for so long, were in pole position to join Zalmi in the top two. They fell at the final hurdle, losing to United. They now face the prospect of requiring three straight wins to lift the trophy.

Hyderabad Kingsmen shouldn't really be here. They were fortunate that they came up against the hopeless Pindiz on the last day of the ladder season to get the massive win they needed to go past Lahore on net run rate.

But they will be confident against this Sultans team. They will know full well that bowling is the Sultans' weakest suit. Sultans are bottom of the table for bowling economy with the third tightest in the tournament. We often favour a good bowling team against one which is bat heavy.

Multan are certainly that. They were identified as one-dimensional from ball one. It often gets a team only so far. Multan are the fastest scorers in the league with Hyderabad in fifth. But on a Lahore surface which is flat, shouldn't Hyderabad's superior bowling bring the teams closr together? The Kingsmen would have been worth a gamble at around the 2.305/4 on the Betfair Exchange but there's no joy at 2.1011/10. Sportsbook are currently offering 11/102.11.

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