MLC 2025
Unmukt Chand stroked an unbeaten 58-ball 86 © MLC
Los Angeles Knight Riders finally got on the board in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 with a six-wicket win over Seattle Orcas. Chasing 178, Unmukt Chand anchored the innings with an unbeaten 86 off 58 balls and shared a crucial 139-run stand with Saif Badar, who chipped in with a rapid half-century. The win, Knight Riders’ first in four matches this season, handed Orcas their fourth straight defeat.
Earlier, Orcas posted 177/6 after opting to bat. Openers Shayan Jahangir and David Warner gave them a strong start, racing to 33 in 3.2 overs but the innings lost steam in the middle overs, thanks to regular wickets from the LAKR bowlers. Andre Russell led the attack with 3 for 30, removing key middle-order batters, Heinrich Klaasen and Shimron Hetmyer. Aaron Jones top-scored with 44 and despite a few late hits from Sikandar Raza and Hetmyer, Orcas finished in a whimper with a 2-run over off Russell.
In reply, Knight Riders stumbled early at 12/2, losing Alex Hales and Nitish Kumar caught behind the wicket. But Chand steadied the innings and gradually upped the tempo after his 39-ball half-century. Badar fell to Raza after a 32-ball 54, but Chand stayed till the end and saw the side over the line. Sherfane Rutherford (20* off 9 balls) played a cameo and sealed Knight Riders’ first points of the season with a six.
Brief Scores: Seattle Orcas 177/6 in 20 overs (Aaron Jones 44, David Warner 38; Andre Russell 3-30) lost to Los Angeles Knight Riders 178/4 in 18.2 overs (Unmukt Chand 86*, Saif Badar 54; Sikandar Raza 1-27) by 6 wickets
© Cricbuzz
