Until the next one, this is Rvel Zahid waving goodbye

Knight Riders have been knocked out of the inaugural season of Major League Cricket, and they will finish at the bottom of the table. Despite Russel resurrecting the Riders' innings and giving his side a fighting chance with his swashbuckling batting display, Washington Freedom made light work of the chase, securing victory with eleven balls to spare. Freedom scored briskly right from the first over, and Knight Riders couldn't stymie the run flow. Narine, Zampa, Ali, and Spencer each picked up one wicket.

Short and Gous contributed 43 (35) and 40 (15) respectively to set the tone for the chase. Philiips, Henriques, and Pienaar ensured there were no hiccups in the end and they got to the target with minimal fuss. With this clinical win, Freedom have secured four points and currently sit at the third position on the table. Riders have one more game to go and they will aim to bow out of the competition with a win.

Moises Henriques, WSH Captain: "I think they got about 50 more than we would have liked after the start we had with the ball. The way our boys started changed the momentum very quickly. We spoke about how things were difficult early on when the ball was hard and new. But the ball was skidding on better under lights."

Sunil Narine, LAKR Captain: "I thought 175 was a good total But they capitalized in the powerplay and took it away. We tried everything but it didn't happen. We didn't execute our plans...that's cricket."

Andre Russell, Player of the Match: "The body is good, most games in T20 you have to play with a niggle. I have perhaps played only a 100 games fully fit. We still have one more game to go and we will see how things are. I am enjoying batting, but our team results are an issue. Hope we can finish with a win and have a glass of Orange juice for that. We still have a good unit, need to keep backing ourselves."

18.1
4
Ali Khan to Pienaar, FOUR, One blow away and that will do nicely for Washington Freedom, short, wide and slapped away with disdain over backward point to register an emphatic win over hapless Knight Riders

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | WSF: 173/4 (3 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.61, RRR: 1.50)

  • Obus Pienaar22 (16b)
  • Moises Henriques16 (12b)
  • Corné Dry4-0-38-0
  • Sunil Narine4-0-20-1

Sabeen Karki: "LAKR has been always unlucky in such franchises leagues instead of good players with their individual performance. All the best LAKR for the next season. Best wishes from Nepal. "

Bhuvan Shom: "What ails LAKR? They have big names like Roy, Russell, Rossow, Narine, Zampa .. yet they are not even competitive?"

Ashton Clothier: "This would not go down well with the owners of LAKKR."

17.6
1
Dry to Pienaar, 1 run, Pitched up outside off on fifth stump line, sweetly struck bottom-handed loft towards wide long-on
17.5
0
Dry to Pienaar, no run, Bends his back and gets this ball to rise steeply off the deck outside off, goes for the pull and only connects with fresh air
17.4
4
Dry to Pienaar, FOUR, That's a freebie served on a plate! Full toss on off, hammered away insolently past backward point for a blistering boundary
17.3
1
Dry to Henriques, 1 run, Good length, angling across to off stump, miscues a skier and it lands into the peninsula between midwicket and square leg
17.2
1
Dry to Pienaar, 1 run, Back of a length, tight off stump line, lifts it away to deep midwicket
17.1
1
Dry to Henriques, 1 run, Length ball, straighter line, pings an on-drive off the backfoot to long-on. 10 away from a convincing win

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | WSF: 165/4 (11 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.70, RRR: 3.66)

  • Obus Pienaar16 (12b)
  • Moises Henriques14 (10b)
  • Sunil Narine4-0-20-1
  • Corné Dry3-0-30-0
16.6
0
Narine to Pienaar, no run, Tossed up right up to the toes on off, pushes to short cover
16.5
1
Narine to Henriques, 1 run, Takes a few steps out of his crease to create his own length and carves it away all along the floor to deep extra cover
16.4
1
Narine to Pienaar, 1 run, Sinks onto his knee and drives with a flourish to long on
16.3
2
Narine to Pienaar, 2 runs, length ball, outside off, up and over point, hustling and bustling for a couple and they make it comfortably in the end

Major League Cricket News

Washington 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st68AGS GousMW Short
2nd28Mukhtar AhmedMW Short
3rd38MW ShortGD Phillips
4th2MC HenriquesGD Phillips
5th41MC HenriquesAJ Pienaar