PSL 2018, Match 11: Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans – Match Predictions

It’s a top of the table clash in PSL on Friday afternoon as Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, the teams occupying the top two positions in the points table will face each other in the first game of the doubleheader.

Multan Sultans are a new entrant to the PSL, but they have set the stage on fire straightaway with their performance. After winning two games straight, they had a minor blip as they suffered a loss against Islamabad United the other evening, but overall, they will be very satisfied with the kind of start they have had in PSL.

Karachi Kings, on the other hand, have easily been the most impressive team in the tournament and they are yet to be beaten. They will like to extend their winning streak and strengthen their position at the top of the table.

Probable nature of the pitch

The Sharjah pitch will be good for batting. The upper surface should be nice and hard without too many cracks as has always been the case at Sharjah. The batsmen will be able to play their shots on the up which means it should be a high scoring game. The captains will like to chase if they have the opportunity to choose at the toss because the nature of the pitch won’t change at all through the course of the 40 overs.

Playing Combination

Karachi Kings

The big boys of the Karachi Kings are delivering. Shahid Afridi has shown that he has not lost his effectiveness as an all-rounder as he is still ripping those leg breaks and is hitting the white ball quite clean. His spell in the last game was a match winning one. Imad wasim himself is leading from the front too by making regular impacts with the ball and these two will be the key for the Kings again.

The only concern however for the Kings is the form of Babar Azam. He has not looked fluent so far, but he is a class player and was in good form recently in the T20 series against the Blackcaps ahead of the PSL. It’s just a confidence thing with him and he should be fine once he spends a bit of time in the middle. However, from the Kings’ point of view, they would think the sooner Babar finds his touch, the better.

Predicted XI: Shahid Afridi, Ravi Bopara, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Amir, Joe Denly, Colin Ingram, Tymal Mills, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imad Wasim (c), Mohammad Irfan Jnr

Multan Sultans

Multan Sultans put on a pathetic batting performance in the last game which was surprising. They have a lot of class in their batting and it was probably one of those days where all of them had an off day which can happen in a big tournament. They will just like to take it as an aberration and put it under the carpet.

While batting is the stronger forte of the Sultans, they don’t lag behind in bowling either. They have three different kinds of left arm quicks in the form of Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan and Sohail Tanvir and to add a different dimension to the attack, there is the wily wrist spin of Imran Tahir. Andre Russel and the captain Shoaib Malik are the all-rounders to fill the 5^th bowler’s quota.

Predicted XI: Kumar Sangakkara, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik (C), Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Sohail Tanvir, Saif Badar, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Imran Tahir

Here’s what CricTracker predicts for the game

Probable Top Performers

Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings) | Shoaib Malik (Multan Sultans)

Timing of the match: 05:00 pm IST

Broadcast Details

TV – D Sport

The prediction is for the Karachi Kings to defeat the Multan Sultans in this match.