Owner Shah Rukh Khan was ecstatic as Los Angeles Knight Riders edged past Washington Freedom in a thriller to win their maiden Major League cricket title on Saturday, July 18. LAKR won the match by just one run in a photo finish as Shadley van Schalkwyk was able to defend 14 runs in the final over.
This was the 10th title to come to the Knight Riders family as their teams have won three IPL, five CPL and one WCPL title over the years. Shah Rukh was a proud man after the win and took to X to congratulate his side after their performance.
The Knight Riders owner gave a special shoutout to Sunil Narine, Jason Holder and Andre Russell for their role in the title win.
“The LAKR stadium. The championship.cricket in America.awesome @SunilPNarine74 @Jaseholder98 @Russell12A and all of the team. Absolutely outstanding. You all said we are here to win not just participate.and u showed it. Love u all.Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo!” said Shah Rukh on X.
HOW DID THE MATCH UNFOLD?
Sunil Narine and Jason Holder combined to script a memorable triumph as the Los Angeles Knight Riders edged Washington Freedom by one run to win their maiden Major League Cricket title at the Oakland Coliseum.
With more than 1,000 T20 wickets between them, the experienced duo delivered when it mattered most. Narine ripped through the top order, while Holder controlled the middle overs before the Knight Riders survived a thrilling final-over scare to successfully defend 164. The victory also ended the title monopoly of MI New York and Washington Freedom, making LAKR the third franchise to lift the MLC trophy.
Washington’s chase stumbled early as Narine dismissed Mitchell Owen for the third straight meeting before removing Rachin Ravindra and Steve Smith, reducing Freedom to 29/3. Andries Gous steadied the innings alongside Nikhil Chaudhary with a 65-run stand, but Holder shifted the momentum again by dismissing Chaudhary—his 400th T20 wicket—and Ben Dwarshuis in the same over. Holder then removed the dangerous Gous, leaving Freedom with a mountain to climb.
Obus Pienaar almost turned the final on its head with a sensational 24-ball 53. His late assault reduced the target from 63 off 30 to just 14 off the final over, and a first-ball six piled pressure on LAKR. However, Shadley van Schalkwyk responded by yorking Pienaar before Ian Holland also fell. Lockie Ferguson kept Freedom alive with a boundary, leaving two needed off the final ball, but Lahiru Milantha was run out attempting the winning run as the Knight Riders sealed a dramatic one-run victory.
Earlier, LAKR looked set for a much bigger total after Colin Munro and Andre Fletcher added 54 in the Powerplay. Munro and Matthew Tromp powered the side to 101/2 after 10 overs, but Washington hit back through a series of double-wicket overs. Nikhil Chaudhary dismissed Fletcher and Andre Russell, Ravindra removed Munro and Narine, while Ben Dwarshuis accounted for Tromp, Rovman Powell and Holder to derail the innings. Owen wrapped up the tail as LAKR finished on 164, a total that ultimately proved just enough thanks to a title-winning effort from their bowlers.
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