134/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.70
154/7 (20.0)
CR : 7.70
Seattle Orcas won by 20 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Dasun Shanaka
58(23)*
SO won by 20 runs
6:46 AM IST, 6:16 PM Local Time: Los Angeles Knight Riders fall short for the second consecutive time in two days in a run chase in Oakland. Their bowlers did a nice job but batters disappointed once again. For the Orcas, it was a clinical bowling performance after Dasun Shanaka's first MLC fifty set up the win. With this win, Orcas now go to the top of the table.
Earlier in the game, Seattle Orcas won the toss and opted to bat first. They lost early wickets, but a composed 38 off 29 from Ali Sheikh, followed by a half-century from Dasun Shanaka, lifted them past the 150-run mark on a sluggish surface.
Shadley van Schalkwyk, Sunil Narine and Fabian Allen picked up two wickets apiece, while Jason Holder chipped in with one.
In reply, the Knight Riders got off to another solid start, putting on an opening stand of 42. They looked well on course before losing three quick wickets to slip to 53 for 3.
Colin Munro struggled for timing once the ball got older. He was joined by Rovman Powell, but both power-hitters found it difficult to pierce the field and find the boundary.
Munro made 33 off 36, while Powell scored 17 off 22 before holing out in the deep as soon as he tried to up the ante.
Jason Holder was a little too cautious at the start of his innings, and by the time he decided to free his arms, it was all too late.
Marcus Stoinis picked up three wickets. Harmeet Singh bagged two, while Jasdeep Singh, Ottneil Baartman and Ali Sheikh got one wicket apiece as LA Knight Riders fell 20 runs short. They now head into their home leg on the back of two consecutive defeats.
Earlier in the game, Seattle Orcas won the toss and opted to bat first. They lost early wickets, but a composed 38 off 29 from Ali Sheikh, followed by a half-century from Dasun Shanaka, lifted them past the 150-run mark on a sluggish surface.
Shadley van Schalkwyk, Sunil Narine and Fabian Allen picked up two wickets apiece, while Jason Holder chipped in with one.
In reply, the Knight Riders got off to another solid start, putting on an opening stand of 42. They looked well on course before losing three quick wickets to slip to 53 for 3.
Colin Munro struggled for timing once the ball got older. He was joined by Rovman Powell, but both power-hitters found it difficult to pierce the field and find the boundary.
Munro made 33 off 36, while Powell scored 17 off 22 before holing out in the deep as soon as he tried to up the ante.
Jason Holder was a little too cautious at the start of his innings, and by the time he decided to free his arms, it was all too late.
Marcus Stoinis picked up three wickets. Harmeet Singh bagged two, while Jasdeep Singh, Ottneil Baartman and Ali Sheikh got one wicket apiece as LA Knight Riders fell 20 runs short. They now head into their home leg on the back of two consecutive defeats.
Jason Holder (LA Knight Riders Captain): [On batting not clicking] The wicket is quite slow and we haven't adjusted. I think when you look at this surface, it's been quite hard to start on. But it's still a wicket where you still got to try to put pressure on the bowlers. You know, having said that, when you look at our batting bowling, probably not as good as we would want it. But I still think we should be getting those runs.
[On letting Orcas go past 150] Yeah, I think in hindsight, you can look back, you can say a few things. If you start, the game, asking your bowlers to limit a team for 150, you'll take it. But having said that, I just think our batters just need to apply themselves a little bit more, string a few more partnerships up front, be a little bit more responsible and take the game as deep as possible. As we've seen, it's very difficult to get in and start.
[Thoughts on the next leg] Yeah, looking forward to what LA brings. We're not sure what the surface will bring. We're not sure what the conditions may bring, but it's a new atmosphere for everyone. It's obviously a home game, our home leg for us, so we're looking to make the most of that, and hopefully our fans can come and support us."
[On letting Orcas go past 150] Yeah, I think in hindsight, you can look back, you can say a few things. If you start, the game, asking your bowlers to limit a team for 150, you'll take it. But having said that, I just think our batters just need to apply themselves a little bit more, string a few more partnerships up front, be a little bit more responsible and take the game as deep as possible. As we've seen, it's very difficult to get in and start.
[Thoughts on the next leg] Yeah, looking forward to what LA brings. We're not sure what the surface will bring. We're not sure what the conditions may bring, but it's a new atmosphere for everyone. It's obviously a home game, our home leg for us, so we're looking to make the most of that, and hopefully our fans can come and support us."
Power Hitter of the Match: Matthew Tromp
Play of the Day: Ali Sheikh (Reverse hit off Sunil Narine)
Player of the Match: Dasun Shanaka
Dasun Shanaka (POTM): [On how did he score quickly] From the situation we were in, I had to play such a crucial innings. My intent was there from ball one, really happy about my performance.
[Target in mind while batting] Initially, I was thinking 120-130 but with the momentum I got, I was able to capitalize on that. So I'm really happy. You know, sometimes you need to step out of your zone to do something like that. I didn't think about the situation too much, which allowed me to just play freely. The confidence was there, especially after not getting big runs in the previous games, so I'm really happy to contribute.
[On the bowling unit] Yeah, absolutely. From the captain's point of view, he rotated the bowlers really well in this game, so well done to him. The bowlers doing the job for him is really good.
[On the Los Angeles leg] Looking forward to the next phase of the tournament in LA. I hope to contribute with both bat and ball."
[Target in mind while batting] Initially, I was thinking 120-130 but with the momentum I got, I was able to capitalize on that. So I'm really happy. You know, sometimes you need to step out of your zone to do something like that. I didn't think about the situation too much, which allowed me to just play freely. The confidence was there, especially after not getting big runs in the previous games, so I'm really happy to contribute.
[On the bowling unit] Yeah, absolutely. From the captain's point of view, he rotated the bowlers really well in this game, so well done to him. The bowlers doing the job for him is really good.
[On the Los Angeles leg] Looking forward to the next phase of the tournament in LA. I hope to contribute with both bat and ball."
Marcus Stoinis (Seattle Orcas Captain): "[Feelings when score was 32 for 4 after opting to bat] No, I wasn't comfortable. I was just thinking about at least getting the game a bit deeper and allowing our batters, whoever we had left, to settle. Dasun ended up putting his hand up and trying to get us to a situation where we can take the game on again, but it was hard. Dasun turned the game for us and obviously was man of the match, and the most important player.
[On Ali Sheikh] A really talented cricketer. He adapted really well. We were talking about the fact that we've got senior players all around him, but our youngster stepped up, adjusted to the conditions, and played really nicely. He took on the bowlers when he had his matchup, played the rest of the innings based on what he saw, and his bowling is really handy. His fielding is great, so he's a real talent.
[How big was that win?] That is nice. I think I also heard that if we lost, we could go to the bottom of the table, so you never get too happy, and you never get too down on yourself. It's definitely nice to have that win as we head off to LA to tackle that leg.
[On Harmeet Singh's performance today] Exceptional today. I think when he's bowling well, it makes my job a lot easier and allows us to rotate our bowlers a lot more. To be fair, the wickets at night were maybe a little bit harder to bowl spin on, but he really got it right today. It allowed a lot of flexibility with him and Ali and then to rotate our quicks.
[Enjoying your role as opening bowler?] Yeah, look, I'm happy to do it. Apart from that first over, I usually just bowl when I think no one else wants to bowl, so that's my theory as the skipper. Take some responsibility there, and then try to put the boys in as many good positions as possible so they can execute their skills."
[On Ali Sheikh] A really talented cricketer. He adapted really well. We were talking about the fact that we've got senior players all around him, but our youngster stepped up, adjusted to the conditions, and played really nicely. He took on the bowlers when he had his matchup, played the rest of the innings based on what he saw, and his bowling is really handy. His fielding is great, so he's a real talent.
[How big was that win?] That is nice. I think I also heard that if we lost, we could go to the bottom of the table, so you never get too happy, and you never get too down on yourself. It's definitely nice to have that win as we head off to LA to tackle that leg.
[On Harmeet Singh's performance today] Exceptional today. I think when he's bowling well, it makes my job a lot easier and allows us to rotate our bowlers a lot more. To be fair, the wickets at night were maybe a little bit harder to bowl spin on, but he really got it right today. It allowed a lot of flexibility with him and Ali and then to rotate our quicks.
[Enjoying your role as opening bowler?] Yeah, look, I'm happy to do it. Apart from that first over, I usually just bowl when I think no one else wants to bowl, so that's my theory as the skipper. Take some responsibility there, and then try to put the boys in as many good positions as possible so they can execute their skills."
Seattle Orcas proved too hot to handle for the LA Knight Riders as Marcus Stoinis' men stormed to the top of the table with a 20-run win in Oakland.
Dasun Shanaka showed everyone the blueprint for batting on this surface with a quick-fire half-century—his first of the tournament. Stoinis then led the way with the ball, well supported by Harmeet Singh and the rest of the bowling attack, as the Orcas restricted LA Knight Riders to 134 for 8.
That's all we have for you from this game. Switch tabs to follow the second game of this MLC double-header, where Washington Freedom take on San Francisco Unicorns.
This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleague Bishal Mandal. Goodbye!
Dasun Shanaka showed everyone the blueprint for batting on this surface with a quick-fire half-century—his first of the tournament. Stoinis then led the way with the ball, well supported by Harmeet Singh and the rest of the bowling attack, as the Orcas restricted LA Knight Riders to 134 for 8.
That's all we have for you from this game. Switch tabs to follow the second game of this MLC double-header, where Washington Freedom take on San Francisco Unicorns.
This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleague Bishal Mandal. Goodbye!