Jones, Hetmyer Power Seattle Orcas to Thrilling Victory, Knight Riders Suffer Crushing Defeat in MLC 2025

The Seattle Orcas demonstrated their prowess in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, successfully chasing down another imposing target to secure a five-wicket win against the Los Angeles Knight Riders. This triumph marks their second consecutive victory in the tournament, solidifying their playoff aspirations.

Asked to bat first, the Knight Riders struggled to gain momentum early on. The pitch offered some grip, making it difficult to time the ball effectively. Andre Fletcher managed to find the boundary on occasion, providing some impetus during the powerplay. However, disciplined bowling from Harmeet Singh, who bowled three tight overs, eventually led to Fletcher's dismissal at long-off.

In a surprising tactical move, Andre Russell entered at No. 3 and adopted a cautious approach initially, particularly against spin. The Knight Riders then suffered a mini-collapse, losing two quick wickets to slump to 48/3. Russell then combined with Saif Badar to stabilize the innings, before Rovman Powell arrived to inject some much needed acceleration. Badar was eventually dismissed for 41, caught by Klaasen off Salamkheil. The partnerships between Russell-Badar and Russell-Powell ultimately propelled LAKR past the 200 mark. Russell reached his first half-century of the season and remained unbeaten on 65 from 39 deliveries, while Powell's explosive 43* off 21 balls ensured they finished on a competitive 202/4.

Waqar Salamkheil emerged as the standout bowler for the Orcas, claiming 2/29 in his four overs. Harmeet Singh and Ayan Desai also contributed with one wicket each.

Facing a target of 203, Seattle suffered an early setback with the loss of opener Josh Brown on the second ball. However, Aaron Jones and Shayan Jahangir forged a remarkable 119-run partnership for the second wicket. They executed calculated risks and kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy rate. Jones reached his maiden MLC fifty before being dismissed by Schalkwyk off Holder for a well-played 73 (38 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes).

The Orcas then experienced a mini-collapse, losing Jahangir, Klaasen, and Sikandar Raza in quick succession. But Shimron Hetmyer continued his impressive form from the previous match, smashing six sixes and four boundaries in a blistering 26-ball 64* to guide Seattle to victory with relative ease. Kyle Mayers provided valuable support with a steady 9 off 12.

Among the Knight Riders' bowling attack, Jason Holder stood out with 2 wickets, while Tanveer Sangha also picked up 2/39. Andre Russell claimed one wicket, conceding 29 runs in his four-over spell.

Match Summary:

• Los Angeles Knight Riders: 202 for 4 (Andre Russell 65 not out, Rovman Powell 43*, Saif Badar 41; Waqar Salamkheil 2-29)
• Seattle Orcas: 206 for 5 (Aaron Jones 73, Shimron Hetmyer 64*, Jahangir 43; Jason Holder 2-36, Jason Sangha 2-39)