LAKR VS SO T20S

Right then, that is it from this game where the Los Angeles Knight Riders opened their account for the season, but the Seattle Orcas remain winless. However, you do not have to go anywhere, as there is another game lined up in the MLC 2025. It is a big clash between the Washington Freedom and the Texas Super Kings. You can just switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that match. Cheers!

Jason Holder, the victorious skipper of the Los Angeles Knight Riders, says that it is an important win for them as they needed that momentum. Adds that he was a bit surprised at the toss when they were asked to bowl first, but he was very satisfied with his bowlers as they did wonderfully well in restricting Seattle to a modest total. Mentions that they just stuck to their plans, and at the end of the inning, they were happy to take this 177 total. Admits that it was set up nicely earlier for them, and though they lost two wickets early, that was a nice partnership between Chand and Saif. States that it has been a team effort overall, where everyone contributed. Talks about the match-winning partnership of 139 between Chand and Saif, as the two complement each other very well, and they needed that stable platform when they lost two early wickets, and it was nice to see that they contributed in a must-win situation.

Unmukt Chand is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning 86 off 58. He says that it feels good, and it was important to win this game. Adds that he enjoyed his partnership with Saif Badar and says it is nice for the team if the US players start to step up. Mentions that they executed their plans well with the ball. Says that he was just looking to set up a solid base in the chase for the big hitters to finish the job, but he just continued to hit it well and in the end stayed till the end to take them over the line.

Presentation Time...

The captain of the Seattle Orcas, Heinrich Klaasen, feels that they have put themselves a bit more under pressure, and that’s the primary reason they lost here. Admits that they didn’t hit enough boundaries in the first inning, and that wasn’t a par total. He congratulates LAKR for their first win, but it is hard to swallow another loss for them. Says that they could have done better in the Powerplay when they were batting, where they had a slow start. Mentions that they had missed the correct lines and lengths to bowl, and thus got punished by the batters. States that it has become tough to make it into the playoffs now, as they need to win almost all their games, and now it is a do-or-die situation for them.

Seattle Orcas will be disappointed with their bowling effort, once again falling short in defending a total. To be fair, they were probably 20-25 runs below par on this surface. Harmeet Singh and Cameron Gannon gave them a promising start with a couple of early wickets, but they couldn’t capitalise on it. A few missed chances and some sloppy fielding didn’t help their cause either. Although Sikandar Raza and Jasdeep Singh managed to pick up a wicket each later in the innings, the momentum was already with the Knight Riders, who chased down the target comfortably with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier in the game, Seattle Orcas put up a competitive total, thanks to gritty efforts from David Warner and Aaron Jones. Shayan Jahangir gave them a brisk start at the top, while Shimron Hetmyer and Sikandar Raza added some crucial lusty blows in the final overs to push the score further. For Los Angeles Knight Riders, Dre Russ was the standout performer with the ball, claiming three wickets, while Corne Dry, Shadley van Schalkwyk, and Jason Holder chipped in with one apiece.

Los Angeles Knight Riders had a shaky start once again, losing Alex Hales early. But their most consistent performer this season, Unmukt Chand, stepped up alongside local talent Saif Badar to steady the innings. The duo weathered the early storm, showing great composure even as the runs were hard to come by initially. Once they got their eye in, it was top-class batting - finding the gaps, rotating strike, and dispatching the loose deliveries with ease to put the bowlers under pressure. They stitched together a superb 139-run stand, both reaching well-deserved fifties and putting LAKR in a commanding position. While Badar fell before the finish, Chand remained unbeaten on 86 and saw the chase through with Sherfane Rutherford, who chipped in with a handy cameo to put the cherry on the cake.

LAKR ARE FINALLY OFF THE MARK IN MLC 2025! After three consecutive defeats, the Knight Riders have bounced back in style with a commanding win, handing the Seattle Orcas their fourth straight loss this season. This will mean a bit more for them as they have done this without their best player, Sunil Narine. The Orcas remain winless in the tournament, and their losing streak now stretches to nine matches, including five from the previous season.

SIX! GAME, SET, AND MATCH! Sherfane Rutherford finishes in some style! A slower delivery, full and a bit outside off, Rutherford remains deep in his crease, gets underneath it and lofts it down the ground. Once again, his left hand goes off the handle, but he completes the full bat swing, and the ball travels all the way over the long off fence for a biggie. Los Angeles Knight Riders win by six wickets with 10 balls to spare!

On a length and outside off, Sherfane Rutherford drops it down to mid off.

Full toss, around off, Chand drills it back to the bowler. Six needed in 12 balls for the Los Angeles Knight Riders.

SIX! QUITE INNOVATIVE! Back-of-the-hand slower one again, well outside off, Unmukt Chand shuffles across and looks to ramp it over fine leg at first. But seeing the ball is outside off, he changes his stance a bit and reverse-ramps it over third man for a biggie.

A low full toss, around off, Sherfane Rutherford squeezes it to short third for a quick single.

Much fuller and outside off, Sherfane Rutherford goes on his knees and looks to loft it over cover but misses. There is an appeal for the caught behind as there comes some sound when the ball has passed near the bat but the umpire shakes his head.

Hard length and outside off, Sherfane Rutherford mistimes his swat shot to wide long off and he takes two runs.

WIDE! Fuller and wide outside off, Sherfane doesn't offer any shot at it. Called a wide.