Los Angeles Knight Riders edged out Texas Super Kings by 12 runs to start their Major League Cricket (MLC) season 2 on a high note. Batting first, Knight Riders posted 162, thanks to a scintillating knock from Unmukt Chand (68 of 45). Super Kings, despite valiant knocks from Devon Conway (53 off 39) and Calvin Savage (29 off 18), fell short, courtesy of Ali Khan’s (4/33) stupendous 3-wicket over.
Match Summary
- Toss: Faf du Plessis (TSK) won the toss and opted to field.
- Los Angeles Knight Riders innings: 162/7 in 20 overs
- Unmukt Chand: 68 (45)
- Nitish Kumar: 26 (17)
- Key Bowler: Zia-ul-Haq (2/16)
- Texas Super Kings Innings: 150/8 in 20 overs
- Devon Conway: 53 (39)
- Calvin Savage: 29* (18)
- Key Bowler: Ali Khan (4/33)
Key Moments:
Zia-ul-Haq’s double strike
TSK skipper Faf du Plessis employed Zia-ul-Haq with the new ball under overcast conditions which proved fruitful for the Super Kings. The left-arm pacer removed both Knight Riders’ openers Jason Roy (2 off 11) and Sunil Narine (2 off 3) in the third over of the innings, providing Men in Yellow a solid start.
Unmukt Chand’s Mature Knock
The Indian-bred batter played a sensible knock when his side were in a precarious position and put the batting back on track. He added crucial partnerships with Shakib Al Hasan (18) and Nitish Kumar (26) to keep ticking the scoreboard. The right-handed batter contributed a pivotal 68 runs off 45 balls, with 6 fours and 3 sixes. 
Russell’s Unfortunate Dismissal: Chops His Bat into the Stumps
Andre Russell (10 off 5) entered the fray in the 14th over of the innings and announced himself with a maximum over long-on off his second ball. However, in the 15th over, while attempting a late cut, the right-handed batter accidentally smashed his bat into the stumps, resulting in an unfortunate hit-wicket dismissal.
Devon Conway Sets the Tone for the Chase
The Kiwi batter handled the new ball carefully and shifted gears once he found his groove. He smashed 4 fours and 2 sixes to notch up his fifty and set the platform for the later batters.
Ali Khan Turns the Game on Its Head
TSK were in total control of the match until Narine introduced Ali Khan in the 14th over. The right-arm pacer wreaked havoc with the ball in his opening over, dismissing three TSK batters—Conway, Joshua Tromp (18 off 14), and Milind Kumar (0 off 1)—putting TSK in deep trouble. His impressive performance proved to be a turning point in the game as the Knight Riders ended up winning by 12 runs.
Implications and Future Prospects
Apart from Devon Conway and Calvin Savage, Super Kings’ batters failed to make significant contributions, which is a concern for the Men in Yellow. They will look to improve in this area as the tournament progresses.
The Knight Riders’ bowling attack, however, is firing on all cylinders. They’ll be hoping to keep this momentum going in the next games. But there are some chinks in their batting armor. None of their big guns managed a significant score today.
Upcoming Fixtures
- San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders: July 7 (Local time)
- Washington Freedom vs Texas Super Kings: July 8 (Local time)
Conclusion
Losing a flurry of wickets at a crucial juncture cost TSK the game, and they will look to stage a comeback in the upcoming match to secure their first win of the season. Meanwhile, winning from a difficult situation will give confidence to the Narine-led Knight Riders.
