Seattle Orcas Surge into MLC Playoff Hunt; Knight Riders Plunge to Bottom After Thrilling Chase

The Seattle Orcas showcased their resilience in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, successfully chasing down a target exceeding 200 runs to secure a five-wicket victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders. This win marks their second consecutive triumph in the tournament, solidifying their playoff aspirations.

The Knight Riders, after being put in to bat, struggled to gain momentum early on. The surface offered grip, making it challenging to time the ball effectively. Andre Fletcher managed to find the boundary on occasion, providing some impetus during the powerplay. However, Harmeet Singh's tight bowling earned him a wicket when Fletcher was caught at long-off.

In a surprising tactical move, Andre Russell entered at No. 3 and initially adopted a cautious approach, particularly against spin. The LAKR then faced a mini-collapse, losing two quick wickets to find themselves at 48/3. Russell then partnered 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. Crucially, the partnerships between Russell-Badar and Russell-Powell propelled LAKR past the 200-run 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 concluded their innings at 202/4.

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

Seattle's chase of 203 began poorly 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 played with calculated aggression, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate. Jones reached his maiden MLC fifty before being dismissed by Schalkwyk off Holder for 73 (38 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes).

The Orcas then experienced a brief wobble, 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 home comfortably. Kyle Mayers provided valuable support with 9 off 12 balls.

Among the LAKR bowlers, Jason Holder impressed with 2 wickets, while Tanveer Sangha also claimed 2/39. Andre Russell took one wicket for 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)