It was against Lahore Qalandars (LQ) that Multan Sultans (MS) finally got going after losing their first three games. But facing Islamabad United (IU) next, the old struggles came rushing back. Now, they’re set to meet Qalandars again in the reverse fixture, this time in Lahore.
For both teams, though, another memory will loom larger than any of their recent games, their nail-biting final in PSL 2023 at this very venue, where Lahore edged past Multan by just one run. MS might not be in the same form they enjoyed over the past few seasons, but it’s never too late to turn a good rivalry into a lifeline and get back on track for old times’ sake.
Team Overview:
Lahore are on a two-match losing streak, with defeats against Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi in their recent games. Their good NRR might not cover for them much longer if they don’t find a way to end this unwanted run. Their bowlers didn’t quite look at home against Zalmi, on the same pitch where the visitors’ bowlers played havoc. Something similar unfolded in Multan too, signalling that Qalandars’ bowling might not be as lethal as it looks on paper. Some of the blame should fall on the middle order as well. The variety they possess, with players like Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, and Sikandar Raza, is second to none, but they seem to lack the killer instinct that will be crucial for every team this season.
For Multan, nearly the same issues have been messing up their chances since the start of this edition. Chief among them is reliance on their top three batters. Across all their games so far, the top three have scored 565 out of the team’s total 850 runs, which means more than 65% of the runs have come from just three players. The fact that this trend has stuck around for five games points to some deeper cracks within. Their bowlers have also been erratic with their form, and Sultans can only hope that part of the engine picks up soon.
Head-to-Head Matches:
In 20 games between the two sides, Multan have won 11, while Lahore have defeated them 9 times, including the finals in 2022 and 2023.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Lahore has hosted only one game so far this season, where the home side barely managed to get past 100 runs. Pacers found plenty to enjoy. Generally, Gaddafi Stadium has not exactly been a pacer’s paradise, quite the opposite, in fact. Over the years, the venue’s love towards batters has declined, but it still offers enough for strokemakers to thrive. Expect spinners to hold sway, especially in the first innings.
Prediction:
A few days ago, Lahore Qalandars would have been clear favourites to win, but the shortcomings exposed in their past two games show they have plenty of repair work to do, and Multan Sultans will look to benefit from that.
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
