MLC 2025
LA Knight Riders badly need a win. © MLC
The Shimron Hetmyer-fuelled recovery for Seattle Orcas has been bad news for the two bottom dwellers in MLC 2025. A slow and lethargic start to the season from MI New York and LA Knight Riders has now brought the two sides to a crucial juncture. Over the next three days, they will spar twice and look to grab four extremely crucial points to keep their campaign alive.
For both of these star-studded T20 outfits, losing has become a habit this season. MI New York’s last – and only – win of the season came two weeks ago in the early stages of the season. For the Knight Riders, the last taste of two points was back on June 22. In their previous two defeats, LA Knight Riders have posted a 200-plus total and failed to defend it. MI NY have also struggled to put in a complete performance as they lost after posting 237 and then failed to chase 203 in the last two outings. The shift to Florida should bring their bowlers into the game and make a difference.
The silver lining amidst all the doom and gloom for both these struggling teams is that they meet each other at their worst form, and can still both harbour hopes of pushing upwards at the cost of the other. Funnily enough, the only win of the season for both came against Orcas – the team they will now try to usurp to fourth spot.
When: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York, 24th Match, July 3, 7:00 PM local time
Where: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida
What to expect:There’s a forecast for rain in the morning but it should stay out during match time. In the one game so far at the venue, batters have found life tougher than it was in Dallas a week ago where totals of 200 were easily scored and outscored.
Team News:
Los Angeles Knight Riders:Jason Holder has had to manage Sunil Narine’s appearances due to an injury sustained earlier in the season. Narine has not featured in the last two games but if fit, he is likely to walk back into the line-up.
Probable XI: Unmukt Chand(w), Andre Fletcher, Saif Badar, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford/Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Jason Holder(c), Matthew Tromp, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Tanveer Sangha
MI New York: In their last fixture, George Linde replaced Delano Potgieter and came away with figures of 2-42, including an early breakthrough in the PowerPlay. They might want to persist with the same combinations.
Probable XI:Quinton de Kock(w), Monank Patel, Nicholas Pooran(c), Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, Tajinder Dhillon, George Linde, Sunny Patel, Ehsan Adil, Trent Boult, Rushil Ugarkar
© Cricbuzz
