At the bottom of the Major League Cricket (MLC) standings, the Los Angeles Knight Riders and Seattle Orcas square off in a pivotal matchup. After losing five in a row, the Orcas made drastic changes in the middle of the season, firing head coach Matthew Mott and having Heinrich Klaasen resign as captain. In their most recent game, Sikandar Raza guided the team to their first points of the season and ultimately ended their losing run. Additionally, they moved up to second last place from the bottom of the table as a result of that outcome.
Shimron Hetmyer, who was hobbling, completed the most successful run chase in MLC history with a spectacular last-ball six to give the team a thrilling victory over MI New York. Chasing 238: Hetmyer’s undefeated 97 was the cornerstone of an exciting response that erased Tajinder Dhillon’s blazing 95 off 35 balls and Nicholas Pooran’s 108*. Hetmyer’s calm hitting, particularly in the last overs, changed the tide and caused the Orcas dugout to celebrate. Earlier, the pair had stitched together a record 158-run partnership, setting the Orcas a daunting total.
The bowling is still an issue in spite of the victory. Although Cameron Gannon and Raza were both costly, MI was only able to reach 237 thanks to a strong finish at the end, whereas 250 or more had been likely. The playoffs are still a long way off, with four games left, but the breakthrough has given Orcas hope.
Knight Riders, who are currently at the bottom of the table, have just won once this season and are coming off two straight losses going into this match. They will be eager to duplicate their one win from earlier in the competition against the Orcas in order to maintain their own remote aspirations of making the playoffs.
In their last game, Knight Riders lost on the last ball despite coming incredibly close to defending 213 against Washington Freedom. They had a solid foundation with to Andre Fletcher’s century, but lost opportunities and erratic death bowling cost them dearly. In addition to adding to the frustration of a campaign full of near-misses, the outcome left them with five losses in six games.
After an exciting victory, Orcas have an opportunity to gain momentum in this encounter. It is a chance for Knight Riders to convert potential into points. Both clubs are aware that every game is a must-win as the clock is ticking down.
When: June 28, 07:00 PM LOCAL, 5:30 AM IST (Jun 29)
Where: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
What to expect: Another flat pitch for the batters and another night of problem-solving for the bowlers.
Team news:
Los Angeles Knight Riders:Sunil Narine sat out of the last match to manage injury, so it remains to be seen if he’s fit enough yet.
Probable XI:Unmukt Chand(w), Andre Fletcher, Saif Badar, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Jason Holder(c), Matthew Tromp/Sunil Narine, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Tanveer Sangha
Seattle Orcas:They are likely to stick to the winning combination.
Probable XI:Shayan Jahangir(w), Josh Brown, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen, Sikandar Raza(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Sujit Nayak, Gerald Coetzee, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Cameron Gannon
