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The 15th match of Major League Cricket 2025 delivered a spectacle at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, as the Texas Super Kings (TSK) outclassed the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) by a commanding 52 runs. With both teams seeking crucial points at the halfway mark of the league phase, it was Texas who seized momentum with a blend of power-packed batting and incisive spin bowling, highlighted by Akeal Hosein’s magical arm ball that left Nitish Kumar stunned and set the tone for a one-sided contest.
Akeal Hosein’s spellbinding arm ball removes Nitish Kumar for a duck
Early in LAKR’s chase of a daunting 197, Hosein produced a delivery that will be replayed for weeks. With just his second ball, Hosein unleashed a wicked one-finger seam-up arm ball that angled in from outside off, seamed sharply, and crashed through Nitish’s defenses to uproot middle stump. Kumar, playing down the wrong line off the back foot, was left bewildered as the ball sneaked through the bat-pad gap—a dismissal that showcased Hosein’s artistry and control with the new ball.
This wicket put LAKR on the back foot at 10 for 2, with Hosein now on a hat-trick. The delivery was not just a technical masterclass but a psychological blow, as LAKR’s top order never fully recovered from the early double strike. Hosein’s figures of 2 for 10 in 3 overs underscored his dominance, and his spell was central to Texas’ stranglehold during the powerplay.
Here’s the video:
Akeal Hosein is on FIRE 🔥 Was this the ball of the tournament? 💥 pic.twitter.com/1uScSuVfIs
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 25, 2025
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Texas Super Kings’ dominating win over Los Angeles Knight Riders in MLC 2025
The game’s foundation was laid by TSK’s resilient batting after an early wobble. Shadley van Schalkwyk’s triple strike had Texas reeling at 33 for 3 inside four overs, but Smit Patel (38 off 33) and Shubham Ranjane (70 off 45) rebuilt with a crucial 64-run stand. Ranjane’s fluent strokeplay and Donovan Ferreira’s explosive 43 off just 21 balls powered Texas to a formidable 196/8.
Ferreira and Ranjane’s partnership, worth 82 in just 40 balls, saw a barrage of boundaries and sixes, especially in the death overs, as LAKR’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring. Despite late wickets from Andre Russell (3/37) and van Schalkwyk (3/51), Texas finished with a total well above par on a slightly slower surface.
Chasing 197, LAKR faltered under scoreboard pressure. Hosein’s early breakthroughs, supported by Noor Ahmad’s crafty left-arm spin (2/27), ensured the required rate kept climbing. Unmukt Chand (30) and Jason Holder (26*) offered resistance, but wickets fell at regular intervals, and LAKR could only muster 144/7 in their 20 overs.
The comprehensive win lifted Texas Super Kings to second on the points table and reaffirmed their status as title contenders, while LAKR were left searching for answers after a fourth defeat in five matches.
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