Balkh Legends vs Kandahar Knights Prediction

BL Team News

Chris Gayle sat the last game out as Balkh Legends rotated their overseas players again - as they have done in the last two games now. Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara and Colin Munro all returned, with Ben Laughlin and Malcolm Waller also making way. Dilshan Munaweera opened the batting with Munro in Gayle’s absence, but his five-ball one is unlikely to be enough for him to keep his place - despite hitting 46 in his previous innings. With one eye on the play-offs and building momentum now, the smart move would be for Balkh Legends to revert to their strongest line-up.

BL Key Players

Chris Gayle was rested for the last match, having finally hit his stride in the previous match when he hit ten sixes in a 48-ball knock of 80 at the top of the order. The West Indian’s T20 career may be winding to a conclusion now, but his achievements in the shortest format of the game mark him as a true modern-day legend.

Ryan ten Doeschate has been Balkh Legends’ batting star though. He hit a sluggish 23 last time out, but that was a stark contrast to his earlier performances. On the opening day he hit 78* to lead the Legends to a six-wicket win, while he also hammered 74* against Paktia Panthers.

Qais Ahmad took 3-19 with the ball last time out, meanwhile - taking him to six wickets in his last three games and all with an impressive economy rate.

Gulbadin Naib is their leading wicket-taker, meanwhile, taking his 12th of the tournament in the win last time out. He was player of the match when these teams last met thanks to taking 4-12 from four overs.

BL Team Form

Balkh Legends won five of their first six games in the competition, including a 14-run win against Kandahar Knights when Colin Munro hit 46 from 24 balls and Gulbadin Naib claimed 4-12 from four overs in a 13-run win.

Their first defeat arrived the following week, when they conceded 204/4 against Paktia Panthers and were all out for 167, but they responded well in bowling Nangarhar Leopards out for 118 and Paktia for 106 in their next two matches.

The batsman then came to the fore in a stunning high-scoring game against Kabul Zwanan - Chris Gayle top-scoring with 80 from 48 balls in a total of 244/6 batting first. In reply, Abdullah Mazari conceded 37 from what is so far his only over of the tournament - six sixes and a wide - but Ben Laughlin’s 3-37 helped turn things around and Balkh Legends eventually won by 21 runs.Last time out they posted just 133/7 from their 20 overs, however. Qais Ahmad took 3-19 from four overs in reply, but Nangahar Leopards strolled to a six-wicket win with two overs to spare.