Lahore Qalandars are the tournament’s most dominant force — 3 of the last 4 PSL titles. Their bowling is the key: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistani cricket’s best T20 pace bowler), Haris Rauf (2/22 in M1), Mustafizur Rahman (1/19), Ubaid Shah (2/27), Sikandar Raza (2/27). This is an attack that can dismiss any team cheaply. Fakhar Zaman at the top with Mohammad Naeem creates a dangerous opening platform.

Karachi Kings showed remarkable composure in M2 — down in the powerplay but fought back through David Warner’s experience and Moeen Ali’s late fireworks. Hasan Ali’s 4/27 (coming back after an expensive first over) showed his class at the death. Adam Zampa’s leg-spin was decisive — dismissing HK’s chase partnership with perfect googly variations. At Gaddafi under the lights with dew, KK may prefer to bowl first.