Lions’ qualification hangs in balance

Team to play must-win match against Southern Express in CLT20

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Lahore Lions will face Sri Lanka’s Southern Express on Tuesday in a must-win game if they are to give themselves any chance of qualifying for the main round of the Champions League T20 (CLT20).

Lions started off the qualification phase in style after stunning the Mumbai Indians with a six-wicket victory on Saturday.

However, they were jolted a day later when New Zealand’s Northern Knights thrashed the side by an emphatic margin of 72 runs. The loss brought the Lion’s Net Run-Rate down to -1.49, with only Southern Express below them with a lower NRR.

Lions will have to beat the Sri Lankan outfit and hope that the Knights beat Mumbai if they hope to qualify without any problems. If the Lions and Mumbai win on Tuesday, then the Knights and Mumbai will be in pole position to go through to the main round.