END OF OVER:
20 | 8 Runs | TSK: 150/8 (13 runs required, RR: 7.50)

  • Calvin Savage29 (18b)
  • Naveen-ul-Haq6 (7b)
  • Ali Khan4-0-33-4
  • Andre Russell3-0-25-0

11.55pm That will be all the action from the first day of MLC 2024. MI New York got things going with a win over Seattle Orcas, before LA Knight Riders got the better of Texas Super Kings. There is plenty more action to come from the USA in the following days, so stay tuned for our coverage. For now, it's Abhimanyu signing off on behalf of Himanshu and Vairavan.

11.45pm Time for the presentation ceremony.

Sunil Narine: "I think we played a really good game. You just have to back your skills. The pitch is going to play how it is going to play but your mindset has to be the same. The main thing was wickets. We didn't get them early but we didn't let them get off to a flyer. But we stuck to our plans and it paid off. We play cricket on the day. There are going to be a lot of stats and matchups but it is about what you think is going to happen. We played good cricket and didn't finish well [last season] but today we were under pressure but we came through and that will help us."

Faf du Plessis: "Two overs in the middle we lost four wickets. Always say never go back-to-back with wickets, and four is quite a lot. [On the target] I thought it was a par score. Even when we bowled up front there was a little bit of movement. New ball was always going to be the key. When we went out there we felt if we could get through the six without being too many down, it would be good. You either start the competition really well, everything clicks and you're in good form, otherwise there are some coaching points and things to learn."

Player of the match is Ali Khan: "It felt great out in the middle. My team needed me and I stepped up and put all my efforts into helping my team. Under Sunil, I've been bowling different roles. He knows my strengths. We have a lot of bowling options up front, lot of players chipped in, so he just told me to stay ready for when we need him. I just try to have a chat with the batters because it can sometimes get me pumped up, gets me in rhythm. That works for me."

11.40pm So, first Unmukt Chand stood up as the lone star against the team from the Lone Star State to help LA Knight Riders get to 162. Then, despite a few wickets, it looked like Devon Conway had set Texas Super Kings up for a comfortable chase. Then came Ali Khan. Introduced in the 14th over, he first removed Conway with his second ball and then picked two more wickets off the last two balls of that over, the first of which saw Derone Davis take what could very well be the catch of the tournament (yes, I'm saying that just two games in, it was that good!). Sunil Narine then got Marcus Stoinis, and after that, his team had a straightforward path to victory, despite a late assault from Calvin Savage. In the end, Ali Khan and his team will go back today with everybody saying "LA Knight Riders, yeah!"

Spencer Johnson: "It's probably a different role for me but it's about adjusting to the conditions. Obviously the weather helped. There was a bit of sideways movement. We got a good total and the boys did well with the ball. It's obviously good to be here on the back of the success the USA had in the World Cup. [On Davis' catch] Yeah I think I had the best view standing at deep point, unbelievable. That was the game changer"

19.6
1
Ali Khan to Savage, 1 run, And that seals the victory for LA Knight Riders! It's a full ball outside off that Savage drives down the ground to long-off. Texas get to 150, but that's still 12 short and last year's wooden spoon winners start this season with a win as the fireworks go off
19.6
1w
Ali Khan to Savage, 1 wide, Fired full and across the batter, but it's called wide
19.5
2
Ali Khan to Savage, 2 runs, Full outside off, he slices it high in the air and wide of long-off to pick up a brace
19.4
0
Ali Khan to Savage, no run, Full outside off, squeezed back to the bowler

He is fine and good to go now. Around the wicket again to Savage

The physio is on and tending to Ali Khan. Derone Davis is crouched next to his team-mate.

19.3
1b
Ali Khan to Naveen-ul-Haq, 1 bye, Length ball around off, Naveen looks to reverse-scoop but misses. They try to run the bye and the keeper throws to Khan, who has a throw at the non-striker's end and misses. And Ali Khan seems to have hurt his ankle in the process!

Over the wicket to Naveen

19.2
1
Ali Khan to Savage, 1 run, Full outside off, Savage manages to steer it fine of deep third for a single
19.1
2
Ali Khan to Savage, 2 runs, Full around off, Savage slices it over point and it drops short of the fielders in the deep converging. They get two

Unsurprisingly, it will be Ali Khan to bowl the final over. Texas Super Kings need 21 to win it. Ali Khan goes around the wicket

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs | TSK: 142/8 (21 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.47, RRR: 21.00)

  • Naveen-ul-Haq6 (6b)
  • Calvin Savage23 (13b)
  • Andre Russell3-0-25-0
  • Ali Khan3-0-26-4
18.6
0
Russell to Naveen-ul-Haq, no run, And Russell closes it out with another dot. This is full outside off, Naveen lofts it down the ground to long-on. But they don't take the single as Savage wants strike for the last over!
18.5
0
Russell to Naveen-ul-Haq, no run, Back of length slower ball outside off deceives Naveen, who swings across the line but can't get bat on ball
18.4
1
Russell to Savage, 1 run, Full and wide, crisply driven to long-off
18.3
4
Russell to Savage, FOUR, Calvin Savage is putting on a show here! This is a wide yorker from Russell but Savage manages to get his bat down under the ball to slice it over short third
18.2
1
Russell to Naveen-ul-Haq, 1 run, Full on off, Naveen drills a drive past a diving cover fielder for a single

Savage comes and has a word with Naveen

18.1
0
Russell to Naveen-ul-Haq, no run, Length ball outside off, pace off, and Naveen can't make a connection as he looks to go over the off side

Dre Russ will bowl the 19th

END OF OVER:
18 | 17 Runs 1 Wkt | TSK: 136/8 (27 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.55, RRR: 13.50)

  • Calvin Savage18 (11b)
  • Naveen-ul-Haq5 (2b)
  • Ali Khan3-0-26-4
  • Spencer Johnson4-0-18-2
17.6
4
Ali Khan to Savage, FOUR, Length ball on the stumps, Savage looks to cut and gets an inside edge past the keeper for four more. Late flourish in this over leaves Texas needing 27 off the last two overs
17.5
6
Ali Khan to Savage, SIX, Shot! This is full on leg and Savage makes room before creaming it straight down the ground
17.4
0
Ali Khan to Savage, no run, Back of length delivery just outside off, a swing and a miss from Savage
17.3
1
Ali Khan to Naveen-ul-Haq, 1 run, Full on the stumps, and Naveen can only drive it out to long-off
17.3
5nb
Ali Khan to Naveen-ul-Haq, (no ball) FOUR, Goes for a yorker on the stumps as he hunts a fifer, but Naveen manages to get his bat down and slice it behind point for four. And it's a no ball because LAKR had an extra fielder outside the circle!
17.2
W
Ali Khan to Mohammad Mohsin, OUT, Ali Khan gets his fourth! Mohsin miscues it as he looks for a big swing. Hits the bat high and David Miller takes it coming in from long-off

Mohammad Mohsin c Miller b Ali Khan 4 (3b 1x4 0x6) SR: 133.33

17.1
1
Ali Khan to Savage, 1 run, Full on off, Savage looks to swing it away but can't get a hold of it. Goes to long-on on the bounce

Ali Khan will continue

END OF OVER:
17 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | TSK: 119/7 (44 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.00, RRR: 14.66)

  • Mohammad Mohsin4 (2b)
  • Calvin Savage7 (7b)
  • Spencer Johnson4-0-18-2
  • Ali Khan2-0-9-3
16.6
0
Johnson to Mohammad Mohsin, no run, Length ball and Mohsin swings and misses as he looks to flay it on the off side
16.5
4
Johnson to Mohammad Mohsin, FOUR, Nearly another wicket played on! But this time Texas get a boundary instead! Mohsin drives at this length ball and gets an inside edge past the stumps
16.4
W
Johnson to Coetzee, OUT, Chopped on! Spencer Johnson gets his second. Back of length delivery angled across Coetzee, who tries to play the late cut, but gets a bottom edge onto the stumps. LAKR inch closer to victory, words you'd not have imagined hearing three overs back!

G Coetzee b Johnson 4 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 80.00

16.3
1
Johnson to Savage, 1 run, Very full outside leg, flicked away to deep midwicket
16.2
0
Johnson to Savage, no run, On the stumps again, Savage can only squeeze it back out to the bowler

Major League Cricket News

Texas 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st30F du PlessisDP Conway
2nd34DP ConwayAM Hardie
3rd38DP ConwayJ Tromp
4th1MP StoinisJ Tromp
5th0MP StoinisMilind Kumar
6th4MP StoinisCP Savage
7th8CP SavageG Coetzee
8th5CP SavageMohammad Mohsin
9th30CP SavageNaveen-ul-Haq