Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) won their first match in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024, edging out Texas Super Kings (TSK) by 12 runs at the Grand Prairie Stadium. The match witnessed a dramatic turn of events, with Andre Russell’s bizarre dismissal adding a touch of misfortune to the Knight Riders’ hard-fought victory.
LA Knight Riders sets competitive target
Batting first, the Knight Riders posted a commendable total of 162/7 in their 20 overs. Unmukt Chand anchored the innings with a well-composed 68 runs, while Nitish Kumar chipped in with a valuable 26. The Super Kings’ bowling attack, spearheaded by Zia-ul-Haq‘s economical spell of 2/16, did well to restrict the flow of runs.
Andre Russell’s bizarre dismissal
The turning point of the Knight Riders’ innings arrived in the 14th over. The big-hitting Dre Russ, known for his explosive batting, had a forgettable outing. Facing a yorker from Gerald Coetzee angling away from his body, Russell attempted a flick but ended up dislodging his own stumps with the bat while trying to play the shot. This comical yet crucial dismissal restricted him to a mere 10 runs off 5 deliveries.
Here’s the video:
Rarest dismissal in cricket – feat Dre Russ pic.twitter.com/aX1NfljG4P
— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1) July 10, 2024
Also WATCH: Derone Davis takes a screamer to dismiss Joshua Tromp in TSK vs LAKR game at MLC 2024
Ali Khan shines for LAKR
Despite Russell’s unfortunate exit, the Knight Riders bowlers rose to the occasion in the second innings. Right-arm pacer Ali Khan emerged as the hero, weaving a web of deception with his accurate fast bowling. His impressive spell of 4/33 put immense pressure on the Super Kings batters.
Chasing a target of 163, TSK started brightly with opener Devon Conway scoring a vital half-century (53 runs). However, the lack of substantial partnerships from other batters hampered their progress. The Knight Riders’ bowling attack, with Ali Khan leading the charge, maintained tight lines and lengths, stifling the Super Kings’ scoring rate. In the end, they fell short of the target by 12 runs, managing only 150/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Also WATCH: Faf du Plessis roars back into form with a stunning century in MLC 2024 | TSK vs WF
