By Tim Douglas 
The LA Knight Riders finally opened their account in the 2025 Major League Cricket season, chasing down 178 with style and poise at Grand Prairie, thanks to a sublime 86 from Unmukt Chand and a steady 54 by Saif Badar.
Reeling at 7/2 in just the third over, the Knight Riders looked under pressure until Chand and Badar stitched together a match-defining 139-run partnership—now the highest stand in the franchise’s MLC history.
Chand, leading from the front, timed the ball elegantly and showed authority against pace. His knock included a stunning onslaught of 20 runs in a single over off South African quick Gerald Coetzee, setting the tone for a seamless chase.
Supporting him, Saif Badar played the perfect second fiddle, smartly rotating strike and launching four sixes to relieve pressure during key phases. Their understanding and calmness under pressure flipped the momentum completely after a shaky start.
Earlier, Andre Russell showcased his experience with the ball, scalping 3 for 30, including the key wickets of Jahangir, Klaasen, and Raza, as the Orcas failed to convert a promising platform into a bigger total.
The Seattle Orcas were anchored by David Warner’s brisk 38 and a controlled 44 from Aaron Jones, but lost steam in the middle overs. Despite a late flourish from Shimron Hetmyer and Sikandar Raza, they finished with a competitive yet slightly underwhelming 177/6.
LAKR’s bowlers, especially Russell, Van Schalkwyk (1/26) and Jason Holder (1/34), applied brakes at crucial junctures, preventing the Orcas from accelerating past the 180 mark.
With this 6-wicket win and 10 balls to spare, the Knight Riders gain critical momentum ahead of their next outing against Texas Super Kings.
For the Seattle Orcas, however, this marks their fourth consecutive defeat, and they now face the daunting task of halting the San Francisco Unicorns in their next fixture.
Match Summary:
Seattle Orcas: 177/6 (Aaron Jones 44, Warner 38; Russell 3/30)
LA Knight Riders: 178/4 (Chand 86, Badar 54; Harmeet Singh 1/29)
Result: LA Knight Riders won by 6 wickets (10 balls remaining)
Anas Ahmed