Unmukt Chand helps LAKR get off the mark as they beat the Seattle Orcas, who have yet to win a game so far.
Unmukt Chand, Russell star as LAKR open their account in MLC 2025.
In the MLC 2025, the Los Angeles Knight Riders defeated the Seattle Orcas by six wickets in Dallas thanks to Unmukt Chand’s undefeated 86 off 58 balls and Andre Russell’s 3 for 30. After four games, the outcome left Orcas without a victory.
With helpful contributions from their top three, the Orcas chose to bat and scored an impressive 177 for 6. They got off to a quick start of 33 in 3.3 overs thanks to Shayan Jahangir and David Warner, who hit 26 off 15. Jason Holder, the captain of LAKR, made the breakthrough by catching Jahangir off guard.
In the eleventh over, Warner and Aaron Jones led the team to 85 before Russell had Warner continue to play. He scored 38 points out of 28.
At one point, Jones was on a-run-a-ball 29. However, he finished with 44 off 36 after hitting a six off Russell and Corné Dry. Orcas could only muster 39 in the final four overs, though, as Heinrich Klaasen and Kyle Mayers were unable to take advantage of the platform.
Among the bowlers, Russell was the best. He controlled the scoring rate by bowling slower yorkers and wide balls. He dismissed Shimron Hetmyer and conceded just two runs in his last over, the 20th of the innings.
After a poor start, LAKR was 7 for 2 in the third over. Almost by himself, however, Chand led them to 45 for 2 after six. He smacked a six and a four against Harmeet Singh in the sixth over after smashing Cameron Gannon for consecutive fours in the fifth over.
At 72 for 2, LAKR was still trailing at the midway point. Saif Badar was on 17 off 16 and Chand was on 42 off 36. However, Chand changed the pace by hitting Gerald Coetzee for two sixes and two fours in a 20-run over. Badar contributed as well, hitting a four and two sixes in three balls.
Chand and Badar simplified the equation so that 40 balls were required instead of 30. Badar perished for 54 off 32, ending their stand of 139 off 79 balls. With ten balls remaining, Chand and Sherfane Rutherford put LAKR over the finish line after Rovman Powell had only been out for three balls.