APL 2018, 1st Semi-final, Balkh Legends vs Nangarhar Leopards, Match Prediction - Who will win the match?

The battle lines have been drawn for the final three games of the Afghanistan Premier League 2018. The table-toppers Balkh Legends will lock horns with the Nangarhar Leopards, who just about squeezed their way into the knockout stages with a win in their final group game.

Chris Gayle is just about getting into his groove and what a time for the Legends to have him in full flow. He notched a couple of breathtaking half-centuries in the last two games and is once again rooting for a big knock on the biggest stage.

For the Leopards, they clearly missed the services of their icon player Andre Russell. Nevertheless, they will be hopeful of repeating their heroic performance against Balkh in their previous game. Although Mohammad Nabi and his highly exuberant side enter the knockout stage as the favourites, it is always difficult to put your money on one side in such circumstances.

Pitch and Weather

Sharjah has provided a decent number of high-scoring and low-scoring thrillers, but since it is the knockout stages, a flat track might be on cards. A high-scoring encounter is expected in typically hot and humid conditions of the Arabian Gulf.

Playing combinations

Balkh Legends

The power-hitting duo of Chris Gayle and Colin Munro will continue to open with the dashing Darwish Rasooli coming in at number 3. Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara and Mohammad Nabi’s presence in the middle order is their key strength. Aftab Alam, Mirwais Ashraf and Gulbadin Naib have been in stellar form and will be keen to continue the good run for another couple of games.

Predicted XI: Chris Gayle, Colin Munro, Darwish Rasooli, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Nabi(c), Gulbadin Naib, Ikram Ali Khan(wk), Mirwais Ashraf, Aftab Alam, Qais Ahmed.

Nangarhar Leopards

Anton Devcich and Andre Fletcher have to provide a brilliant start if ever they want to match up with the standards of Balkh. Najeeb Tarakai, Rahmat Shah, Ben Cutting and Hashmatullah Shahidi will be forming the middle order for the Leopards. The onus will remain heavily on Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Zahir Khan to do the bulk of the damage with the ball and they will be accompanied by Mitchell McClenaghan and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Predicted XI: Anton Devcich, Andre Fletcher, Najeeb Tarakai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Shafiqullah Shafiq(wk), Ben Cutting(c), Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zahir Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane/Mitchell McClenaghan.