Medium pacer Ali Khan posted an amazing performance by taking four wickets as the Los Angeles Knight Riders beat Texas Super Kings by 12 runs in a Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 game at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas last Saturday.
Texas Super Kings chose to bat first having won the toss, with their bowlers getting into the match straightaway.
In his side’s innings, India’s victorious 2012 under-19 World Cup captain Unmukt Chand played a vital role slamming away 68 runs from just 45 balls.
His knock included six boundaries and three sixes that helped them post a good total of 162 for seven in their allotted over which is twenty overs long.
The local boy Nitish Kumar scored a quickfire 26 runs from only 17 balls contributing to the team’s overall score.
Chasing victory target of 163, Texas Super Kings were restricted to 150 for eight in their full quota of overs due to Ali Khan’s brilliant spell that saw him take four wickets and equally impressive bowling by left-arm paceman Spencer Johnson who gave away just eighteen runs while claiming two scalps.
Ali Khan was awarded man of the match for his impactful performance.
“Cramping right now but felt great out there in the middle and put all my effort for the team. Under Sunil I have been bowling in different roles and he knows me well from other league as well. Luckily it paid off today,” said Ali Khan after Los Angeles Knight Riders’ win.
“It was fight mentality do your best and leave it all up to God. Thought he dropped it at first but it was crazy when he caught it again,” he said
Los Angeles Knight Riders’ skipper Sunil Narine lauded Unmukt Chand’s magnificent innings pointing out specifically his contribution during this match
“We played a good game. Struggled with the bat but Unmukt batted really well to get us that total. Have to back yourself. If you think too much about the pitch it could affect your game. Pitch is going to do what is going to do so have a clear mindset and play. On the day yes there’s a lot of stats and matchups, but cricket is play on the field/day. Happy it worked, sometimes it doesn’t,” said Narine
“(Ploy to bowl himself out early which eventually led to Stoinis dismissal). We were under pressure and we came out well today, that will be the key taking today. You have to win games under pressure,” he said
