Seattle Orcas edged out Los Angeles Knight Riders by 9 wickets to grab their first points of Major League Cricket (MLC) season 2. Batting first, Los Angeles Knight Riders posted 168 runs in 20 overs, thanks to valuable knocks from Jason Roy (69 off 52) and David Miller (44* off 22). In a dominant batting display, Seattle Orcas crossed the winning line in 19.5 overs with 9 wickets in hand, courtesy of Ryan Rickelton’s scintillating 103* off 66 balls.
Match Summary
- Toss: Heinrich Klaasen (SO) won the toss and opted to field.
- Los Angeles Knight Riders Innings: 168/5 in 20 overs
- Jason Roy: 69 (52)
- David Miller: 44* (22)
- Key Bowler: Zaman Khan (2/24)
- Seattle Orcas Innings: 169/1 in 19.5 overs
- Ryan Rickelton: 103* (66)
- Quinton de Kock: 51* (46)
- Key Bowler: Spencer Johnson (1/28)
Key Moments:
Zaman Khan Provides an Early Breakthrough
Heinrich Klaasen deployed Pakistani slingy-action pacer Zaman Khan in the fourth over of the innings, and he made an immediate impact with the ball. He trapped LA Knight Riders skipper Sunil Narine (5 off 6) straight away on the first ball of his spell, providing an early breakthrough for Seattle Orcas.
Jason Roy’s Well-Compiled knock
The English batter spearheaded the innings for the Knight Riders and took his time to settle at the crease. He tonked the Orcas bowlers at regular intervals to keep the run rate in check and notched up his half-century in the process. The right-handed batter contributed a valuable 69 runs off 52 balls, smashing 5 fours and 4 sixes. 
Miller’s Killer Performance
Miller looked sluggish in the previous encounter, but the Protea batter smashed an unbeaten 44 runs off just 22 balls in this contest, smashing 5 fours and 2 sixes and helping the Knight Riders post 168 runs. He tore apart his compatriot Nandre Burger by smashing 24 runs in the final over, providing a perfect finish to the innings.
Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock’s Stupendous Partnership
In pursuit of the Knight Riders’ 168 runs, Seattle Orcas lost Nauman Anwar for a mere 9 runs. However, Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock paired up in the middle and added an unbeaten 152-run stand for the second wicket, helping their side cross the winning line easily. Rickelton displayed scintillating form and notched up his century, remaining unbeaten on 103 runs off 66 balls, with 9 fours and 5 sixes. On the other hand, de Kock didn’t look too aggressive and only attacked the loose balls. The left-handed batter finished unbeaten on 51 runs, including 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Implications and Future Prospects
The Knight Riders’ middle-order batting hasn’t performed up to expectations so far, and they need to improve it in the upcoming matches. Corne Dry, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Shakib Al Hasan must contribute with the ball to pressure the opposition.
On the other hand, Ryan Rickelton’s inclusion in the squad yielded the desired result for Seattle Orcas. While Quinton de Kock played a good knock, he could have been a bit more aggressive to help their side bolster the net run rate, which will be a major factor in the team’s qualification for the playoffs at the business end of the tournament.
Conclusion
After winning their inaugural tournament match, the Los Angeles Knight Riders have lost two matches on the trot and are positioned at number four on the points table. They will look to regroup and return to winning ways in the next match. On the other hand, the Seattle Orcas won their first game in this MLC and are positioned at number five on the points table, with 2 points from 2 games. They will aim to carry the momentum into the upcoming matches and climb the ladder.
