Texas Super Kings secured their first win of the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season in front of a jubilant home crowd at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, defeating the LA Knight Riders by 52 runs in a commanding performance on both fronts.
After losing early wickets during the powerplay, Texas found stability through a composed innings from Shubham Ranjane, who stitched a crucial 66-run stand with Smit Patel. Ranjane’s 42-ball knock held the innings together as Patel played the anchor before being dismissed by Andre Russell while attempting an improvised scoop.
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Ranjane’s efforts were further boosted by a powerful cameo from U.S. international Donovan Ferreira, who wasted no time making his presence felt. Ferreira unleashed a flurry of aggressive shots, targeting Ali Khan with successive boundaries before going after Russell in the 16th over. The pair accelerated the scoring rate dramatically, adding 72 runs in the final five overs to take the Super Kings to a competitive 196/8 in their 20 overs.
In response, LA Knight Riders stumbled early as debutant Akeal Hosein, brought in for this match, delivered immediate impact. The left-arm spinner struck twice in his opening over, removing Alex Hales and Nitish Kumar in successive balls, effectively jolting the Knight Riders’ chase.
With the required run-rate climbing steadily, the LA batting unit found it difficult to recover from the early blows. While Russell tried to stabilize the innings, Noor Ahmad’s return to form sealed their fate. The Afghan left-arm spinner produced a key spell, finishing with 2/27, including the prized wicket of Russell with a beautifully flighted delivery.
Texas maintained pressure throughout, with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensuring LA’s chase never gained momentum. The Knight Riders eventually managed only 144/7 in their allotted overs, falling well short of the target.
The win was Texas Super Kings’ first of the season and sets them up with renewed confidence ahead of their next fixture against MI New York on June 29. LA Knight Riders, meanwhile, face an uphill task to stay in contention as they prepare to meet Washington Freedom on June 26, with just one win to their name so far.
Brief Score
- TSK: 196/8 in 20 overs (Shubham Ranjane 70, Donovan Ferreira 43, Smit Patel 38, Andre Russell 37/3)
- LAKR: 144/7 in 20 overs (Unmukt Chand 30, Jason Holder 26, Akeal Hosein 10/2, Noor Ahmad 27/2).
- Match Summary: Texas Super Kings Win by 52 runs
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