Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Texas Super Kings faced strong bowling from Los Angeles Knight Riders.
Unmukt Chand, captain of India’s victorious Under-19 World Cup team in 2012, played a crucial innings, smashing 68 runs off 45 balls.
His innings featured 6 boundaries and 3 sixes, guiding his team to a competitive total of 162 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Local talent Nitish Kumar contributed 26 runs off 17 balls to the team’s total.
In response, chasing 163 for victory, Texas Super Kings managed to reach 150 for 8 in their 20 overs, largely due to Ali Khan’s exceptional four-wicket haul and a tight spell from left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, who conceded only 18 runs while picking up 2 wickets.
Ali Khan’s impactful performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
“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 leagues as well. Luckily it paid off today,” Ali Khan said after Los Angeles Knight Riders’ win.
“Fighting mentality, do your best and leave the result to God. I thought he dropped it at first but it aas unbelievable that he caught it again,” he said.
Los Angeles Knight Riders’ captain Sunil Narine praised Unmukt Chand for his outstanding innings, particularly highlighting his contribution in the 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 played on the field/day. Happy it worked, sometimes it doesn’t,” Narine said.
“(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.
