MLC 2025
Los Angeles Knight Riders are yet to win a game in MLC 2025 © MLC
A few common threads run through the beleaguered MLC campaigns of the Seattle Orcas and LA Knight Riders so far. Both teams have crashed and burned with three consecutive losses and are in urgent need of a strategic overhaul to turn their seasons around. In a six-team tournament where four progress to the next round, it’s not too late for a comeback – but if there’s ever a good time to start scripting one, it’s now.
The Knight Riders will tell themselves they were agonisingly close to two points in their last fixture, until Glenn Maxwell showed up like he hasn’t for a long time now. That said, all three losses have exposed a worrying pattern: the inability to close out a chase. It’s been a preposterous trend, given the T20 batting riches in their line-up. It’s perhaps the same riches that will keep the optimism coursing through the dressing room, giving them the assurance that the first two points – and a gateway to a lot more, is just around the corner. It just needs a little harder shove from the experienced likes of Sunil Narine, Jason Holder, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell.
For the Orcas too, there’s optimism to draw from their last fixture. A top-order reshuffle saw them post their first 200 of the season which should come as an encouraging sign for the season, even if they couldn’t defend it. They’ve suffered while both setting and chasing targets so far, even folding for as little as 60. Skipper Heinrich Klaasen was at a loss explaining the collapse but his batters responded well in just the next game against MI New York.
As both teams travel east from California to Dallas, they’ll know they’ve had moments where victory was within reach, even if the points column doesn’t show it yet. Their face-off brings a silver lining in this early gloom – at least one of them will definitely break their rut.
When: Seattle Orcas vs Los Angeles Knight Riders, 12th Match, June 22, 03:00 PM Local time
Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
What to expect: Big runs and an inclination to chase? Two games at this venue so far have seen two big successful run-chases, including one where San Francisco Unicorns surmounted Texas Super Kings’ 198/5 in just the 17th over.
Team News:
Seattle Orcas: Bringing in Shayan Jahangir to open with David Warner and moving Kyle Mayers to two-drop worked out well for the Orcas in their previous fixture. Jahangir provided a brisk start and Mayers managed to maximise the middle and death overs to give their side a 200-run total. Shimron Hetmyer too walked in and made an impact straightaway (21 off 9) and should retain his place. The batting combinations should stay intact.
Bowling selections could be a tricky call for Orcas who went from doing well collectively against Texas Super Kings (restricted to 153/6) to failing in defence of 200. Each of the three bowlers who erred against MI New York – Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh and Obed McCoy, have been immaculate and precise in at least one other game. Heinrich Klaasen could be tempted to go without more changes.
Probable XI: David Warner, Kyle Mayers, Shayan Jahangir(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Aaron Jones, Heinrich Klaasen (c), Sikandar Raza, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Cameron Gannon, Obed McCoy
Los Angeles Knight Riders
They too made three changes in their previous outing, with middling returns. Jason Holder went for 53 in his four overs and scored 23* off 16, Rovman Powell scored just four runs but Corne Dry came away with two wickets in what eventually turned out to be a humbling defeat to Washington Freedom.
The Knight Riders could be tempted to add another big-hitting West Indian to the mix with Sherfane Rutherford to beef up the batting that suffered an implosion last game. If they opt to go down that road, Alex Hales could make way after an underwhelming start to the season. The Knight Riders have the option of then opening with Unmukt Chand and Sunil Narine, with Rutherford slotting in a two-drop.
Probable XI: Alex Hales/Sherfane Rutherford, Unmukt Chand (wk), Saif Badar, Matthew Tromp, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Sunil Narine, Jason Holder (c), Corne Dry, Tanveer Sangha
© Cricbuzz
