Gregory Brathwaite (West Indies), Jermaine Lindo (USA), Wayne Knights (New Zealand, TV)
Referee
Simon Taufel (Australia)
Toss
Texas Super Kings elected to bowl
Pitch Report
Pretty good looking wicket. Has a green tinge to help the fast bowlers. There is going to be a little bit swing, little bit bounce. Bowlers are going to favour the shorter lengths.
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
164Avg Runs
7Avg Wkts
136.63Avg
SR
2nd Innings
137Avg Runs
6Avg Wkts
128.27Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Texas,USA
Updated: 06 Jul 10:00
19.3°CClear
clear sky
5%
Clouds
0%
Rain %
44%
Humidity
20.8 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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Venue Details
Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas
Pretty good looking wicket. Has a green tinge to help the fast bowlers. There is going to be a little bit swing, little bit bounce. Bowlers are going to favour the shorter lengths.
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So that concludes our coverage of this contest. MLC 2024 is up and running and we have a Saturday special lined up as Washington Freedom lock horns with MI New York in Morrisville. Do join us for our coverage of that contest which begins at 3 PM local time (12.30 AM IST) right here on Sportskeeda. For the moment though, this is the duo of Karthik and Sooryanarayanan taking your leave. Thank you so much for joining us for this contest as we hope you enjoyed our coverage. See you around soon. Take care and buh-bye for now!
An impressive start for the LA Knight Riders as they pull off a hard-fought win. The Super Kings will be disappointed having played so well for majority of the contest but these are still early days. Long way to go in this tournament and they will look to bounce back soon in their next encounter against Washington Freedom.
Sunil Narine (Los Angeles Knight Riders captain): I think we played a good game. Struggled with the bat earlier but Unmukt played an excellent innings. His innings gave us a total to defend. You still have to back your skills. If you think too much of the pitch you could play false shots. The main thing was wickets - if you pick up early wickets you get into the game. We didn't get too many early wickets but we didn't let them get off to a flyer. It's on the day (on matchups). Yes there's going to be a lot of stats and matchups but it's about what you think is the matchup on the day. (Did he plan to hold himself back for Stoinis?) I had one left and I asked a few boys who should come, me or Russ and they told me to go for the wicket. Sometimes it works. We were under pressure and we came out of it. Coming out of pressure and winning tight games will be good for us.
Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings captain): I think it's pretty obvious - the two overs in the middle where we lost four wickets. We played pretty well until then there. Even the first innings we bowled pretty well. The boys batted nicely and then that window there, four wickets for a few - never nice losing back-to-back wickets. I thought it was a par score. Even when we bowled upfront there was a bit of movement. There was quite a bit of grass on the wicket. The new ball was going to be the key. We felt if we could get through the first six without too many wickets down (it would be good). After the new ball it got easier. When you start a competition like this you either start really well and everything clicks on day one or we call it coaching points and learning points where you can improve and get better.
Ali Khan (Player of the Match): My team needed me and I had to step up. Under Sunil, I have been playing different roles. We have a lot of bowling options and they chipped in the Powerplay. Fighting mentality, just give your best. If I pick up a fight, it pumps me up. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Initially I thought he dropped the catch, so stopped my celebration. Then, I saw that he took the catch and it was unbelievable.
Spencer Johnson: Different role for me but it is just about adapting to the conditions. The weather around help, there was a bit of sideways movement. The boys put on a good total and that helped us. Exciting times here and I am thrilled to be back. (Derone Davis' catch) Unbelievable and that was the game-changer.
Match Summary: Los Angeles Knight Riders beat Texas Super Kings by 12 runs.
We mentioned about that last over with Corne Dry scoring those boundaries off Marcus Stoinis and how that could be the difference. As it turns out, the Knight Riders prevail by 12 runs - exactly what Dry managed to score off four deliveries. Tells you just how the small contributions go a long way in this format, doesn't it?
That said, this was a chaseable score and for long, the Super Kings were in command despite being kept quiet by Spencer Johnson who got the ball to deck around considerably. Devon Conway picked up pace though even as skipper Faf du Plessis showed signs of doing the same before a ramp off the cue-end found the hands of the fielder. Conway was outstanding against the spinners though even as Aaron Hardie struggled and having got a partnership going with young Joshua Tromp, the New Zealand star seemed on track to get the job done for the Super Kings.
The Knight Riders were desperately in search of a wicket with skipper Sunil Narine also finding it tough to break through. His move to hold Ali Khan back paid off though as a tremendous over saw the speedster nab three wickets to derail the chase with Conway departing after getting to his half-century. The highlight of course was Derone Davis' screamer at deep third man as he plucked a stunner on the second attempt to send Tromp on his way back. With Marcus Stoinis then trapped in front by Narine, the tables turned in a matter of a couple of overs.
Thereafter, it was headed only one way despite Calvin Savage managing some lusty blows. He was left with too much to do on his own though and with the pacers closing it out with a tremendous display of death bowling, the Knight Riders sealed an impressive win to kickstart their campaign in style. Stick around as we hear from the captains and the Player of the Match...
A round 150 is what the Super Kings finish with but it's the LA Knight Riders who take the honors today in Dallas. What a start to their campaign after finishing rock bottom last year!
20
overs
150/8score
2
1
1b
0
2
1wd
1
runs
Calvin Savage*
29(18)
Naveen ul Haq
6(7)
Ali Khan
4/33
19.6 Ali Khan to Calvin Savage, full and angling away, Savage drives it to long-off. Only a single as LAKR reign victorious by 12 runs to start their campaign on a good note.