Karachi Kings (KK) and Lahore Qalandars (LQ) share a rivalry that has stayed intense, even when one or both teams weren’t at their best. The banter between the two cities was what always added fuel to the rivalry. However, this season, both teams are sharp enough to finally bring cricket into the equation.
Currently placed in second and third positions, both sides have identically won four games and lost three, with Lahore slightly ahead thanks to a washout that gave them an extra point. Both sides have religiously avoided consistency, but Karachi have been more mercurial of the two, alternating between victories and defeats throughout the season.
Lahore have many things to draw confidence from this season. They earlier defeated Karachi at their home, for the first time in many years, and recently downed Islamabad United (IU) by a gigantic 88-run margin. Much of this shift for the good is down to the fact that the team finally looks settled.
Team Overview:
Karachi’s last three games have seen them winning one by a whisker, losing one, and outdoing the bottom-most team in the most recent. While the results have largely been in their favour, they will need to address the elephant in the room. And that is their middle order. Tim Seifert, David Warner, and James Vince at the top have mostly done the heavy lifting, with the bulk of runs coming off their bats. But beyond the upper order, things nosedive into mediocrity.
Karachi’s No. 4 to No. 7 have collectively scored at 16.65 while striking at a sluggish 113, which is the lowest among all teams. This was evident in their close victory against Peshawar Zalmi, where a reliable middle order wouldn’t have taken the game to the last over. Khushdil Shah has shown some sparks of brilliance, but they have been few and far between to make any difference.
For Lahore, the top order has done a decent job as well. Fakhar Zaman averages 32 with a strike rate of 152 which, by his standards, isn’t the classic Fakhar, but impactful nonetheless. Abdullah Shafique’s return among runs has been a welcome sight for Lahore. While Mohammad Naeem, after struggling early on, finally seems to have found his groove. He scored a 30-ball half-century against Quetta and will hope to keep on adding to his tally in his debut season.
There is no Lahore bowler in the top 10 highest wicket-takers this season. However, as many as four LQ bowlers are lined just outside the first ten, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, and Rishad Hossain.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Lahore Qalandars have only ever won seven games against Karachi Kings over the years, with one of them coming in a super over. The remaining 13 out of 20 matches were bested by Karachi Kings.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The Gaddafi Stadium has been witnessing some thrilling games lately, with the surface providing a solid deck for a good game of cricket. Hosting consecutive games here has worn the surface into bringing spinners into the play. A high-scoring game isn’t on the cards, given how the surface has played lately. Although Karachi went above the 200-run mark in their last game here, the pitch has since undergone plenty of deterioration. Lahore’s sky is full of clouds, but there is no forecast for rain to disturb the game.
Prediction:
Lahore do not like faltering at their home venue, and having now played four games in a row here, they might just have the edge to trample over the visitors.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: A Sports, PTV Sports, Tapmad, Tamasha, Walee Technologies, Myco App, Begin
India: FanCode App, Sony Sports Network
Africa: Super Sports
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
North America: Willow TV
MENA: MYCO
Rest of the World: Sports Central
