So, that concludes the first match of MLC's doubleheader day. Thank you for tuning in. Do join us for the second match of the day, where the Texas Super Kings will bat first against the Washington Freedom. Goodbye!

Jason Holder: "[Win] Very important for us. We needed that momentum, and hopefully we can press them from here. (Bowl first) A little bit surprised by having said that, we still had to play cricket. I was very pleased with our boys. I thought our bowlers did an outstanding job. We were very disciplined. We executed most of our plans, and we were able to restrict them to a reasonable total. I thought at the halfway stage we would have taken it 177 and this was just a matter for us to set up nicely. Although we lost two early wickets, we were still able to build a really nice partnership in the middle. The bowlers were outstanding, each and every bowler that came up put up a really good effort and helped the cause. I guess, a total team effort, we were able to really restrict the total runs in the middle, get wickets in the back end, and then obviously, start with the bat. So all in all, a really good win. [Excellent partnership] Exactly what we needed after losing the early two wickets. We spoke about just setting the game up. And I thought those two did an outstanding job of setting the game up for us nicely. Sherfane, Rovman, myself, Russell, if needed, the platform to really strike in the very end. So kudos to those two. I thought their partnership was outstanding in the match. Winning partnership for us."

Most Valuable Player, Unmukt Chand: "[Batting] Well, it was good. It was important for us to win this game. We've worked really well and obviously it's important that we sort of go there, implement ourselves, execute the plans which we had sort of made for ourselves. I guess I was hitting the ball pretty well. Wanted to make sure that we sort of set up a good base so that our power hitters can sort of come on later on and finish the game. But I think it kept going well. So it kept on going. [Partnership with Saif Badar] That was really special. Because I think for a team as well, when the domestic guys step up, it makes a huge difference. And I think Saif was due out of him, and he's a good batsman. After losing those two wickets early on, the way we sort of kept playing and that was important for us to do that, and obviously, we kept getting the boundaries in the middle, which is good."

Heinrich Klaasen: "It's a tricky one. I just feel today we just ourselves a little bit under pressure there, from over seven to 10-11-12, but we just didn't get enough boundaries. They bowled extremely well, but you still need to try something, which we lack today. And it's easy to say, yes, we need to go up front, but if you go out, then there's no one at the back to do the job as well. I just think we've lost it a little bit at the start of the Powerplay. We batted well in the Powerplay, and then just lost our way a little bit. And it was quite tricky to come in and then just to score. [Bowling unit] Just execute more. I think our plans are good, and when we nail our plans and execute our lengths and lines, then it's good. We're just missing quite a lot. And that's how the game of cricket works. It's professional sports, and if you miss on this level, you're definitely going to get punished. [Four losses in a row] It's a tough one, but it's a do-or-die situation, almost twice now. If we could win four or five out of six, we'd still be in the mix, and that's what we keep aiming for if we can get on a roll. We can still get into that blast."

5:38 pm Finally, the Los Angeles Knight Riders have done it! They've bagged their first win of the season! It wasn't the easiest start for them, as they lost opener Hales and top-order batter Nitish early on, both falling within the Powerplay. Once again, their top order couldn't quite get them going. However, Unmukt Chand looked in brilliant touch today, and with Saif Badar, they began to rebuild the innings. This was no easy feat, as the pitch was sluggish, with the ball awkwardly bouncing and moving both ways when new. Chand switched the tide in the 11th over, scoring 20 runs with two sixes and two fours, drastically changing the tempo of the game. Saif Badar scored 54 runs off 32 deliveries, building a key partnership with Chand before departing. The drama continued as Jessy Singh bowled Rovman Powell in the very next over. But it didn't faze the Knight Riders! Rutherford came in and played a brilliant, quickfire cameo of 20 runs off just 9 balls, taking his team across the line. But the true star of the show was Unmukt Chand. What an innings! A real gem, as he remained unbeaten, scoring a magnificent 86 runs off 58 deliveries. For the Seattle Orcas, their struggles continue. They've now played four games and lost all four. Their bowlers, who began brilliantly, appeared to lose their venom as the ball got older, unable to maintain the early pressure. Their fielding and bowling efforts today were unimpressive; they simply lacked the additional spark or 'X-factor' required to get over the finish line and finally earn some points this season!

Los Angeles Knight Riders won by 6 wickets

18.2
6
Jasdeep Singh to Rutherford, SIX, That's outta here, and so are the Los Angeles Knight Riders! Full and overpitched ball outside the off stump line, presents the full face of the bat, moves towards the line of the ball and slammed it high in the air over long off, bottom hand goes off, but doesn't matter as Rutherford had plenty of power to clear the fences!
18.1
0
Jasdeep Singh to Rutherford, no run, length ball around the off stump line, punches off the back foot to the covers

6 needed from 12 now.

END OF OVER:
18 | 16 Runs | LAKR: 172/4 (6 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.55, RRR: 3.00)

  • Unmukt Chand86 (58b)
  • Sherfane Rutherford14 (7b)
  • Cameron Gannon4-0-38-1
  • Jasdeep Singh3-0-23-1
17.6
0
Gannon to Chand, no run, low full-toss on the stumps, played with soft hands with the toe end of the bat to mid-off
17.5
6
Gannon to Chand, SIX, Cheeky stroke! Slower bouncer delivery outside the off stump line, hangs back inside the crease, shuffles across and ramps it over the keeper's head, using the pace and the breeze, sends it flying into the stands behind the stumps
17.4
1
Gannon to Rutherford, 1 run, low full-toss ball on the stumps angling in, places the face of the bat and whisked down to short third
17.3
0
Gannon to Rutherford, no run, Full and wide outside off, around the wicket, plays through the covers, does not connect, massive appeal from the keeper turned down by the umpire, that seemed like the bat hitting the ground
17.2
2
Gannon to Rutherford, 2 runs, hard line and length ball around the fifth stump line, full swing of the bat and mishits to widish long off for a couple of runs
17.2
1w
Gannon to Rutherford, 1 wide, wide ball sliding down off
17.1
6
Gannon to Rutherford, SIX, Up and over! Back of a length ball on the pads, this one kept low on the track, Rutherford stands tall inside the crease, picked up the slower delivery early, bottom hand goes off as he whips it away over square leg and into the breeze for a maximum, bottom hand goes off during the stroke

22 from 18, Gannon here

END OF OVER:
17 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | LAKR: 156/4 (22 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.17, RRR: 7.33)

  • Unmukt Chand80 (56b)
  • Sherfane Rutherford5 (3b)
  • Jasdeep Singh3-0-23-1
  • Sikandar Raza3-0-27-1
16.6
4
Jasdeep Singh to Chand, FOUR, sliced over point! Full and too wide outside off, plenty of room to free his arms, moves across the line, standing on the fourth stump line, goes down on one knee and plays the check-drive, slices it aerially over the point region, beats the sweeper fielder, too
16.5
0
Jasdeep Singh to Chand, no run, fullerl ength ball on the pads, tucked away to short fine leg
16.4
1
Jasdeep Singh to Rutherford, 1 run, length ball on the stumps, tucked away to deep mid wicket
16.3
4
Jasdeep Singh to Rutherford, FOUR, That's some way to get off the mark! Pitched up front around the off stump channel, opens the full face of the bat and drills it away, gets it just over Hetmyer at extra cover, races away to the ropes
16.2
0
Jasdeep Singh to Rutherford, no run, good length ball from around the wicket, solid defense off the front foot to short cover

Rutherford in at number 6

16.1
W
Jasdeep Singh to Powell, OUT, Gone through the gates and disturbed the timber! That's a peach of a delivery from Jessy! Good length ball on around the off stump channel, angling in and slight deviation off the pitch, goes through bat-pad as Powell tries to defend off the front foot, plays down the wrong line of the ball, the bails are flying!

R Powell b Jasdeep Singh 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33

31 runs needed from 24 deliveries, Jasdeep to bowl the 17th over.

END OF OVER:
16 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | LAKR: 147/3 (31 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 9.18, RRR: 7.75)

  • Rovman Powell1 (2b)
  • Unmukt Chand76 (54b)
  • Sikandar Raza3-0-27-1
  • Gerald Coetzee3-0-36-0
15.6
1
Sikandar Raza to Powell, 1 run, back of a length ball on the stumps, moves onto the back foot and clears the front leg, punches down the track off the back foot to long on
15.5
0
Sikandar Raza to Powell, no run, Tossed up fuller length ball driven straight to the covers

Rovman Powell is the new batter at number 5

Strategic Timeout

15.4
W
Sikandar Raza to Saif Badar, OUT, Gannon has taken a stunning catch! Leg-break delivery from Raza, skids on and held on the pitch, Saif goes big at it and miscued the slog sweep stroke, struck it hard and flat towards deep mid wicket area. Gannon sprints in and takes a brilliant low catch diving forward!

Saif Badar c Gannon b Sikandar Raza 54 (32b 2x4 4x6) SR: 168.75

15.3
1
Sikandar Raza to Chand, 1 run, short of a length ball slashes hard through the covers

Los Angeles 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4AD HalesUBT Chand
2nd3NR KumarUBT Chand
3rd139UBT ChandSaif Badar
4th1UBT ChandR Powell
5th31UBT ChandSE Rutherford