MLC 2025: Texas Super Kings Crush LA Knight Riders by 52 Runs

Shubham Ranjane’s steady 70 and Donovan Ferreira’s explosive cameo helped the Texas Super Kings claim a convincing 52-run win against the Los Angeles Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

LA Knight Riders won the toss and chose to bowl first, making early breakthroughs through Shadley van Schalkwyk, who removed Saiteja Mukkamalla (9) and Marcus Stoinis (0) in consecutive deliveries. His early spell reduced Texas to 33 for 3 within four overs.

Smit Patel and Ranjane combined for a vital 64-run partnership that helped Texas recover. Patel made a steady 38 off 33 balls before Andre Russell broke the stand. Ranjane continued to anchor the innings and later found support from Donovan Ferreira, who delivered a quick-fire 43 off 21 balls, striking four boundaries and three sixes.

Ranjane was eventually dismissed for a well-made 70 off 45 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes. Ferreira was run out in the same over as Texas finished at 196 for 8 in their 20 overs. Van Schalkwyk and Russell claimed three wickets each, while Ali Khan added one.

In response, LA Knight Riders struggled from the start. Akeal Hosein made an immediate impact by removing Alex Hales (5) and Nitish Kumar (0) in his first over, leaving the Knight Riders at 10 for 2.

Unmukt Chand (30) and Saif Badar (19) tried to stabilize the innings with a 45-run stand, but Stoinis broke through to trigger a collapse. Despite efforts from Rovman Powell (21) and Jason Holder (26 off 15), LAKR failed to build momentum.

Hosein and Noor Ahmad both picked up two wickets, while Stoinis, Ferreira, and Zia-ul-Haq each claimed one as the Knight Riders were restricted to 144 for 7. The win ended Texas Super Kings’ two-game losing streak and lifted them to second place on the MLC 2025 points table.