Noor Ahmad (4/22) and Adam Milne (2/8) starred with the ball after Devon Conway (34 off 22b; 4×4, 1×6), Saiteja Mukkamalla (31 off 22b; 3×4, 2×6), Daryl Mitchell (36* off 33b; 2×4, 1×6), and Donovan Ferreira (33* off 16b; 2×4, 2×6) struck vital cameos to help Texas Super Kings (TSK) defeat Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) by 57 runs in Match No. 5 of the Major League Cricket at the Oakland Coliseum.After being put in to bat first, TSK had a sedate start. Openers Conway and Faf du Plessis took a cautious approach, managing just 27/1 in the first four overs.Once Andre Russell bowled du Plessis, 21-year-old Saiteja Mukkamalla decided to take charge. He smashed three clean sixes and a couple of crisp fours to provide the impetus TSK needed.However, spinners Sunil Narine and Tanveer Sangha applied the brakes again in the middle overs. Narine was his usual miserly self, but it was Sangha’s classical leg-spin that stole the show. The Australian returned with figures of 2/32 from his four overs.Donovan Ferreira’s late flourish took TSK to a competitive total. It wasn’t a towering score on a ground known for 200-plus totals, but TSK had the Noor Ahmad factor.The Afghan wrist-spinner bowled an exceptional spell, finishing with 4 for 22. While Noor led the wickets tally, it was Adam Milne’s opening burst that set the tone. Milne ended with 2 for 8 in 3.1 overs.Daryl Mitchell, who had earlier compiled a scratchy unbeaten 36, made amends in the second half. He bowled Unmukt Chand and then took two sharp catches to dismiss Russell and Narine off Noor’s bowling.
For LAKR, Alex Hales (25 off 17b; 1×4, 3×6), Unmukt Chand (22 off 23b; 2×4, 1×6), Matthew Tromp (23 off 12b; 3×4, 1×6), and Shadley van Schalkwyk (27 off 21b; 2×4, 2×6) were the only notable contributors.TSK’s bowling attack proved too good for LAKR, who never seemed in the contest during the chase.With this win, TSK maintained their unbeaten run with two wins in as many matches, while LAKR continue to search for their first victory.
