Unmukt Chand and Andre Russell Star as LAKR End Winless Streak Against Seattle Orcas

Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten 86 and Andre Russell’s three‑wicket haul led the Los Angeles Knight Riders to a six‑wicket win over Seattle Orcas in Dallas, snapping their three‑game losing streak in MLC 2025. The result left Seattle winless after four matches.

Batting first, the Orcas put up a competitive 177 for 6 thanks to solid contributions from their top three. Shayan Jahangir hit a quickfire 26 from 15 balls, partnering with David Warner for a brisk opening stand of 33 in just 3.3 overs, before LAKR captain Jason Holder struck to have Jahangir caught behind.

Warner and Aaron Jones added 52 runs, taking the total to 85 in the 11th over, before Russell claimed Warner’s wicket for 38 from 28 balls. At one point, Jones was on a run‑a‑ball 29, but he accelerated with a six each off Corné Dry and Russell to finish with a well‑paced 44 from 36 balls. However, despite their strong platform, Seattle stuttered towards the end, with Kyle Mayers and Heinrich Klaasen unable to capitalise as the Orcas managed just 39 in the final four overs.

Russell was the pick of the bowlers for LAKR. The veteran all‑rounder kept things tight with well‑disguised slower balls and precise yorkers, especially in the 20th over, where he gave away just two runs and dismissed Shimron Hetmyer.

The LAKR chase started shakily, as they slumped to 7 for 2 inside three overs. But Unmukt Chand held the innings together, guiding the Knight Riders to 45 for 2 by the end of the Powerplay. He smashed Cameron Gannon for back‑to‑back boundaries in the fifth over and followed up with a six and a four off Harmeet Singh in the sixth.

Still, at the halfway mark, LAKR were slightly behind the required rate at 72 for 2, with Chand on 42 from 36 and Saif Badar on 17 from 16. But Chand flipped the switch, plundering Gerald Coetzee for two sixes and two fours in a pivotal 20‑run over, while Badar joined in soon after with two sixes and a four across three deliveries.

Their partnership of 139 from 79 balls brought the target down to a manageable 40 required from 30 deliveries. Badar departed for an excellent 54 from 32 balls, and Rovman Powell lasted only three deliveries, but Chand kept his composure, seeing LAKR home with ten balls to spare alongside Sherfane Rutherford.

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