Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars Tips & Preview – A Battle Of The Bottom Dwellers

Karachi Kings are alive mathematically, and for that, they have to thank the mercurial Hasan Ali for his spell of 4 for 15 that shot out Quetta Gladiators for 118, the season’s lowest total. 

• Seifert’s form is a welcome boost for the Kings
• Qalandars finally discover a bowling attack
• Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars, Tips and Predictions

With three games left, the Kings can get to a maximum of 12 points. 

They should hope Gladiators and Peshawar keep losing. While it isn’t ideal to be unable to control their fate, there’s little they can do except try to win the next two and let the games take their course.

Qalandars have no such headaches. They know they’re out and are just playing for pride. Even if they win the next two games, chances are they will finish with the wooden spoon. But when teams generally have nothing to lose, they’re at their most dangerous. This is exactly what the Kings will need to look out for.

On Wednesday, Tim Seifert played his first impactful knock of the season in four innings. His 31-ball 49 helped allay fears of any meltdown in a small chase. Tricky totals can often lead to seeds of doubt for batters in terms of their approach. 

Seifert left nothing to chance, playing the 360-degree game he’s known for. It made up for Shan Masood’s early dismissal and set them up for the chase. Luckily, James Vince and Shoaib Malik made 27 apiece to ensure the middle order wasn’t exposed. He has struck those runs at a strike rate of 143. The only other top-order batter with a better strike rate on the team has been Kieron Pollard, whose 196 runs have come at 161.98.

Just when you thought, ‘Oh no, not again,’ Qalandars brought out their A-game to defend 162 courtesy of their fast bowling pair of Zaman Khan (four wickets) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (two wickets). Islamabad United was reduced to 32 for 4 in no time, and it didn’t seem like a comeback was possible.

Then, at the first sign of their attack losing steam and switching off, United counter-attacked. Azam Khan began the turnaround with a quickfire 29, Faheem Ashram shellacked a 31-ball 41 not out, and Naseem Shah, who has won Pakistan thrillers against Afghanistan with his six-hitting, made 27. When Shaheen had him bowled, Qalandars needed 48 off four with just two wickets standing. The game was gone right there.

Bank big on Shaheen to deliver again, not just with the ball but with the bat too, like he did against United when he made a 14-ball 30. Having discovered the sweet smell of victory, they will be raring to defeat the Kings, who clinched a last-ball thriller when the sides last met.