Match Center

Right then, that is it from the exciting encounter between Texas Super Kings and Los Angeles Knight Riders. The action doesn’t stop yet as MLC will be back the following day for the match between Washington Freedom and MI New York. The venue will be the Church Park Street in Morrisville. The first ball will be bowled at 12.30 am IST ( 7.00 pm GMT on the previous day) but our coverage will start much earlier. Do join us for the buildup. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Sunil Narine, the skipper of the winning team, the Los Angeles Knight Riders is up for a chat. He says that Unmukt Chand played a brilliant knock which gave them a total to defend. Mentions that it is about backing your skills trust the plan and keep the mindset stable. Adds that picking early wickets was important and Ali Khan turned the tide in their favor. Says that in this game it is more about what is best for you. Mentions that it wasn't planned to get matched up against Marcus Stoinis. Ends by saying that they were under pressure initially and won the match after a comeback.

Faf du Plessis, the skipper of Texas Super Kings says that it was obvious that those two overs where they lost 4 wickets was the turning point and up until then, they played really well. Adds that 162 was a par score and even when they bowled, there was some initial movement and the new ball was going to be key and wanted to keep wickets in hand after the first 6 overs. Mentions that when you start a competition like this, either everything works out perfectly or you play well and end up on the losing side, so, they aren't too much bothered about it.

Ali Khan is the Player of the Match for his incredible bowling performance. He says that he is cramping right now but it felt great to be putting all his efforts for the team. He mentions that he has been fulfilling different roles under Sunil Narine and having different bowling options helps the team. Adds that he trusts his process and mentality. Credits Derone Davis for that superb catch

The Presentation ceremony…

Earlier in the innings, the Texas Super Kings started off well and got some early wickets. Only, Unmukt Chand stuck around for a long time and put the pressure back on the bowlers. The wickets never stopped falling and that put more pressure on the Los Angeles Knight Riders. However, a sudden boost at the end by Corne Dry powered them to a score of 162. Zia-ul-Haq was the star of the bowlers with his economical spell along with two big wickets.

Spencer Johnson is down for a chat. He says that it was a different role for him to bowl more in the Powerplay but he enjoyed it. Adds that the weather helped a bit and there was sideways movement and the boys played well. Adds that it is an exciting time to play against some of the best players in the world. Reckons that Deron Davis' catch was simply sensational and that really turned the game.

Texas Super Kings started off well and managed to stay above the required run rate for most of the game. Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway gave a great start and after that, Aaron Hardie and Joshua Tromp too kept the rate going. However, one over changed their fortune and sent back three of their batters - Devon Conway, Joshua Tromp, and Milind Kumar. Marcus Stoinis succumbed to his nemesis yet again in the very next over and that put complete pressure on them. Gerald Coetzee's stay was also not very long as he too couldn’t make a mark. Even the last-minute heroics from Calvin Savage couldn’t be enough the get them over the line.

Los Angeles Knight Riders had a tight couple of overs but when Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway started getting boundaries, there didn’t seem any way to stop them. Spencer Johnson then came in and sent back Faf du Plessis. Just as another partnership was brewing, the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Shakib Al Hasan put a hold on the runs and the latter got the wicket of Aaron Hardie. Ali Khan turned the tables in their favor as he picked three big wickets in a single over followed by a wicket by Narine. After that, there was no turning back and Spencer Johnson took another prey in his final over. Ali Khan managed to finish the innings well and ended the match with 4 wickets to his name.

That's it, Los Angeles Knight Riders have won the game! Nice and full again around off stump, Calvin Savage stays deep in the crease and drills it back past the bowler for a single. The fireworks go up and Dallas seems still in the 4th of July mood. Knight Riders win by 12 runs!

WIDE! Another attempted wide yorker but this is fired past the tramline outside off and Ali Khan will have to reload that one.

Goes for the wide yorker now and nails it as well. Calvin Savage hangs back in the crease and forces the lofted shot well over covers for a couple of runs.

That should be that! Full and quick, right in the blockhole around middle, Calvin Savage can only manage to jam it back to the bowler.

A slight halt! Ali Khan seems to have injured himself while throwing the ball. He is clutching his legs and is on the ground. Hopefully, it can be fixed with some spray and painkillers because he is an important asset to his team. The physio is strapping up his calf so that he can be able to continue.

That was a bit unnecessary from Ali Khan and he has ended up hurting himself. Back of a length and over the stumps, Naveen-ul-Haq tries the reverse scoop but misses and Calvin Savage calls him for a bye. The keeper throws the ball back to Khan who fires in a quick throw at the bowler's end from a few yards out but completely misses his mark and it is missed by the fielding backing up as well. Thankfully, there was another fielder at long on and it will be just a bye but Khan is down on the pitch in some pain.

Nails the wide yorker now and Calvin Savage squeezes the ball away firmly towards deep third for just a single, good bowling.

Comes from around the stumps and angles it well across the off stump on a fuller length. Calvin Savage has to really reach for it and slices it high and wide of deep third for a couple of runs.

Ali Khan to bowl the final over.