172/4 (19.1)
CR : 8.97
171/9 (20.0)
CR : 8.55
Los Angeles Knight Riders won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Matthew Tromp
58(28)*
9:52 AM IST, 11:22 PM Local Time: LAKR win by 6 wickets! With that result the LA Knight Riders qualify for the first Qualifier as they confirm a top 2 spot in MLC 2026. From not making it to any of the playoffs all these years, this Jason Holder-led unit has done really well to make sure they have to shots at the final. As for Faf du Plessis and his men, they qualified every year till now but this time around will have to settle with the wooden spoon.
The LA Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Super Kings' batters got starts, but only one man could convert it into something substantial. Rilee Rossouw (24), Faf Du Plessis (23), Dian Forrester (24) and Donovan Ferreira (19) got in but could not build enough as the Super Kings were struggling at 113/5. Shubham Ranjane took matters in his own hands and batted beautifully with the tail to push the score to 171/9. He ended 51 off 34 not out. The pick of the bowlers were Jason Holder (3/33) and Andre Russell (2/38). The total was below par the chase was always going to be an easy one if one of the batters got in and got a good score.
The Knight Riders' openers set the perfect platform up front. They added 87/0 in the first 10 overs. Colin Munro was the aggressor with 62 off 36 to his name whereas Andre Fletcher did the smart job of giving his partner the strike regularly. However, just after the drinks break, a mini collapse took place. From 87/0, the Knight Riders slipped to 101/3 thanks to some top-notch bowling and tight fielding. Munro and Fletcher were taken out in that phase.
Matthew Tromp and Rovman Powell got together and added 64 off 36 for the fourth wicket. That partnership was really all about Tromp as he scored more than 85% of the runs in that. He smashed his way to a second 50 this year at the MLC and ended with 58*. That powered his side over the line with 6 wickets in hand. The pick of the bowlers for the Super Kings was Hardus Viljoen for his 2-42.
The LA Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Super Kings' batters got starts, but only one man could convert it into something substantial. Rilee Rossouw (24), Faf Du Plessis (23), Dian Forrester (24) and Donovan Ferreira (19) got in but could not build enough as the Super Kings were struggling at 113/5. Shubham Ranjane took matters in his own hands and batted beautifully with the tail to push the score to 171/9. He ended 51 off 34 not out. The pick of the bowlers were Jason Holder (3/33) and Andre Russell (2/38). The total was below par the chase was always going to be an easy one if one of the batters got in and got a good score.
The Knight Riders' openers set the perfect platform up front. They added 87/0 in the first 10 overs. Colin Munro was the aggressor with 62 off 36 to his name whereas Andre Fletcher did the smart job of giving his partner the strike regularly. However, just after the drinks break, a mini collapse took place. From 87/0, the Knight Riders slipped to 101/3 thanks to some top-notch bowling and tight fielding. Munro and Fletcher were taken out in that phase.
Matthew Tromp and Rovman Powell got together and added 64 off 36 for the fourth wicket. That partnership was really all about Tromp as he scored more than 85% of the runs in that. He smashed his way to a second 50 this year at the MLC and ended with 58*. That powered his side over the line with 6 wickets in hand. The pick of the bowlers for the Super Kings was Hardus Viljoen for his 2-42.
Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings Captain): "[Was 171 enough at the halfway mark?] No, I thought we were 20-30 short once again. I feel on this wicket you need to be 180 plus to really be in the game. So same things as yesterday, we get good starts but not something big enough from anyone to set you up for the game. So yeah, we were definitely 20 short.
[On the bowling effort to defend it] We fought well; we showed good character for pushing it all the way to the end. The boys were brilliant especially Akeal Hosein. I felt he bowled really well. They all tried really hard. One dropped chance in the field, I think it is the 4th game in a row where we dropped a chance, it just makes those close games slip away.
[On the season as a whole] Yes disappointing. I think throughout the season we were very consistent in the way we played. Very accurate with what we did. However, we missed out on crucial moments and could not really hang on to them. I felt that was something you need someone to own either with a partnership with the bat or with the ball closing the game down. There were 3-4 occasions where we took the game right to the wire but just fell short."
[On the bowling effort to defend it] We fought well; we showed good character for pushing it all the way to the end. The boys were brilliant especially Akeal Hosein. I felt he bowled really well. They all tried really hard. One dropped chance in the field, I think it is the 4th game in a row where we dropped a chance, it just makes those close games slip away.
[On the season as a whole] Yes disappointing. I think throughout the season we were very consistent in the way we played. Very accurate with what we did. However, we missed out on crucial moments and could not really hang on to them. I felt that was something you need someone to own either with a partnership with the bat or with the ball closing the game down. There were 3-4 occasions where we took the game right to the wire but just fell short."
Time for the post-match presentations...
Power Hitter of the Day: Donovan Ferreira
Play of the Day: Shubham Ranjane
Player of the Match: Matthew Tromp
Matthew Tromp (POTM): "[On his approach with the bat] I was just looking to be as positive as I can be. That has been my motto all through the season. Had some great chats with Watto and Bravo. They have given me great confidence, and I just got out there to play my game, and it is paying off.
[On being in great form over the last few games] Yeah, it is surreal. I have put in the hard work in the off season. I was in New Zealand and training for all those months. I am happy it is starting to pay off. We have a long way to go. 2 big playoff games. Hopefully we can make it in 2. Win one and then win the final to lift the trophy.
[How important is it to end in the top 2?] It is massive we have loved this venue. We are going to San Francisco. We lost two there but got a lot of learnings. I am confident about this team to win."
[On being in great form over the last few games] Yeah, it is surreal. I have put in the hard work in the off season. I was in New Zealand and training for all those months. I am happy it is starting to pay off. We have a long way to go. 2 big playoff games. Hopefully we can make it in 2. Win one and then win the final to lift the trophy.
[How important is it to end in the top 2?] It is massive we have loved this venue. We are going to San Francisco. We lost two there but got a lot of learnings. I am confident about this team to win."
Jason Holder (LA Knight Riders Captain): "[Keys to today's win] Just the way we went about the chase was clinical. I think the bowlers did a great job. We got wickets at crucial stages to restrict them to 170. Then we had a very controlled chase. Our openers have done a great job throughout the season. Then Tromp he has been phenomenal in the top order so credit to those 3.
[Were they comfortable despite losing wickets regularly after drinks?] Yeah, we were always comfortable. We always knew we had big overs to come especially hitting down wind. Actually, we have had a very good template in Dallas. 6/6 over here. Hopefully we can play like this at other venues in the future. Time to move to SF and get into the business end of the tournament.
[On adapting to the wicket in San Francisco] We have to see how the wicket plays. It will not be as slow as it was earlier. Hope it is a good wicket. We expect a good contest from SF. They have been playing some great cricket. We just hope we can bring our best.
[On Ali Khan's injury] Yeah, he had a split webbing before the tournament, and it reopened today. We will monitor him for the next couple of days. He seems in good spirits and enthusiastic so hopefully we'll have him in the next game."
[Were they comfortable despite losing wickets regularly after drinks?] Yeah, we were always comfortable. We always knew we had big overs to come especially hitting down wind. Actually, we have had a very good template in Dallas. 6/6 over here. Hopefully we can play like this at other venues in the future. Time to move to SF and get into the business end of the tournament.
[On adapting to the wicket in San Francisco] We have to see how the wicket plays. It will not be as slow as it was earlier. Hope it is a good wicket. We expect a good contest from SF. They have been playing some great cricket. We just hope we can bring our best.
[On Ali Khan's injury] Yeah, he had a split webbing before the tournament, and it reopened today. We will monitor him for the next couple of days. He seems in good spirits and enthusiastic so hopefully we'll have him in the next game."
Okay then, we have our top 4 teams all locked in order for the playoffs. We finally got that in the last league game of the season and that just shows us how tightly contested this league was.
Qualifier: San Francisco Unicorns vs LA Knight Riders on 16 July, 3 AM IST (15 July, 2:30 PM Local Time). [The winner goes to the final. The loser gets a second chance in the Challenger]
Eliminator: Washington Freedom vs MI New York on 16 July, 7 AM IST (15 July, 6:30 PM Local Time). [The winner moves to the Challenger. The loser goes home]
Challenger: Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator on 17 July, 7 AM IST (16 July 6:30 PM Local Time) [The winner goes to the Final. The loser goes home]
Final: Winner of Qualifier vs Winner of Challenger, 19 July, 5 AM IST (18 July, 4:30 PM Local Time)
Qualifier: San Francisco Unicorns vs LA Knight Riders on 16 July, 3 AM IST (15 July, 2:30 PM Local Time). [The winner goes to the final. The loser gets a second chance in the Challenger]
Eliminator: Washington Freedom vs MI New York on 16 July, 7 AM IST (15 July, 6:30 PM Local Time). [The winner moves to the Challenger. The loser goes home]
Challenger: Loser of Qualifier vs Winner of Eliminator on 17 July, 7 AM IST (16 July 6:30 PM Local Time) [The winner goes to the Final. The loser goes home]
Final: Winner of Qualifier vs Winner of Challenger, 19 July, 5 AM IST (18 July, 4:30 PM Local Time)
With this we bring curtains to the league stage of MLC 2026. It was an absolute pleasure bringing all the action for you and can't wait to see you all at the playoffs.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleague Bishal Mandal. See you at the playoffs! Ciao!
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleague Bishal Mandal. See you at the playoffs! Ciao!