In the opening contest of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 tournament, the Texas Super Kings (TSK) emerged triumphant with a convincing 69-run victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR). The match took place at the Grand Prairie Stadium, where the Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat first.
TSK posted a competitive total of 181 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Devon Conway played a crucial innings, scoring 55 runs off 37 deliveries, including 7 fours and 1 six. David Miller was the standout performer, smashing a blistering 61 off just 42 balls, featuring 2 fours and 4 sixes. Mitchell Santner contributed a quickfire 21 runs off 14 deliveries. Ali Khan and Lockie Ferguson were the pick of the bowlers for the Knight Riders, claiming 2 wickets each.
Chasing 182 for victory, LAKR faltered and were bowled out for just 112 runs in 14 overs. Andre Russell showed some resistance with an impressive knock of 55 runs off 34 balls, which included 7 fours and 3 sixes. Jaskaran Malhotra also played a handy knock, contributing 22 runs off 11 deliveries. However, the Super Kings bowlers proved too strong for the Knight Riders. Mohammad Mohsin was exceptional, taking 4 wickets for just 8 runs in his 3 overs. Rusty Theron and Gerald Coetzee also performed well, picking up 2 wickets each.
In this victory, the Super Kings displayed their dominance in both batting and bowling.
Miller’s outstanding batting performance earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award.
“Good to get off to a good start, the win for the team was great,” the Proteas star said in the post-match presentation.
“The opening game at MLC to see such a great turnout was fantastic. A few guys had a few questions of how it was going to be here but they have all been answered,” he added.
