Cricket

Los Angeles Knight Riders Triumph Over Seattle Orcas in Major League CricketIn a crucial match for the Major League Cricket 2024 playoffs, the Los Angeles Knight Riders emerged victorious against the Seattle Orcas at Church Street Park in Morrisville on Wednesday.Batting first, the Seattle Orcas posted a competitive total of 142/6, thanks to a blistering 89-run knock from Ryan Rickelton. The South African opener smashed six sixes and seven fours in his 52-ball innings.The Los Angeles Knight Riders, chasing a moderate target, relied on a solid partnership between Unmukt Chand and Jason Roy. Chand top-scored with a 62-run knock off 47 balls, while Roy contributed 28 runs.Despite a late surge from the Orcas, the Knight Riders held their nerve to chase down the target with five balls to spare. Saif Badar played a crucial cameo towards the end, ensuring the victory for his team.The win was a much-needed boost for the Knight Riders, who had lost their previous two matches. The Orcas, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the standings after another disappointing performance.The Knight Riders' bowling attack, led by Sunil Narine, performed admirably, restricting the Orcas to a manageable total. Harmeet Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Cameron Gannon, and Keemo Paul all bowled well for the Orcas, but they were unable to defend their total.The Orcas had a chance to post a higher score, but a poor finish cost them the game. They were on track to reach 170 runs at one point, but they fell short by 10-12 runs.

Unmukt Chand, the former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain, has expressed his disappointment over being left out of the USA's squad for the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Chand, who retired from Indian cricket in 2021, shifted base to the USA in search of better cricketing opportunities. After playing in the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) and other franchise tournaments, he became eligible to represent the USA.Chand had openly expressed his desire to play against India in the T20 World Cup, but his hopes were dashed when he was not selected for the squad. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Chand revealed that he was shocked and devastated by the omission."That wasn't an ideal situation to be in. Because personally for me, this was what I had dreamed for the last three years. Obviously, it was a big shock. And it took me time to sort of come to terms with it. It's never easy as a player, having lost all those things back home in India, to having this one goal, which had kept me going for the last three years not happening. So it is difficult. I won't say which just happened. But it was difficult. I was not my best self for some time," Chand said.Chand admitted that he struggled to cope with the disappointment and went through a period of inner turmoil. "That was a very internal battle and it's a sucker basically. It keeps sucking you inside and inside. That feeling would linger on for a day and then go away and then come back again. The reality would hit me in different phases. Once you keep going through that automatically you keep getting better. There comes a time when you're like it didn't happen, that's it. I'm not even thinking about it," he added.Despite the setback, Chand remains determined to prove his worth. He started the second season of the MLC with a swashbuckling half-century for his franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR). Ironically, LAKR is owned by the Knight Riders group, the same franchise that Chand played for in the IPL when his career took a downturn after being clean bowled by Brett Lee in the opening ball of IPL 2013.Chand's omission from the USA's T20 World Cup squad has raised questions about the selection process and the opportunities available to Indian-origin players in the USA. However, Chand remains optimistic about his future and is focused on performing well for LAKR in the MLC.

Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India's U19 World Cup-winning team, has faced a rollercoaster of a career since his triumph. Despite switching to US citizenship, Chand was surprisingly omitted from the USA squad that stunned the world by reaching the Super 8 of the 2024 T20 World Cup.Undeterred, the 31-year-old Chand is determined to prove his worth. He kicked off the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC), USA's franchise T20 league, with a scintillating half-century for the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR).Ironically, LAKR is owned by the Knight Riders group, the same franchise that marked the beginning of Chand's downfall when he was famously clean bowled by Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Brett Lee in the opening ball of IPL 2013.After finishing at the bottom of the table in the inaugural season of MLC, LAKR needed a strong start to MLC 2024. Chand, batting at number 3, took charge in the opening match against Texas Super Kings after openers Jason Roy and Sunil Narine were dismissed cheaply.Chand's blistering knock of 68 off 45 balls, including six fours and three sixes, was the cornerstone of LAKR's respectable total of 162/7. No other batter in the LAKR lineup crossed 30, highlighting Chand's crucial contribution.Despite the presence of star names like David Miller and Andre Russell, Texas Super Kings fell short by 12 runs. USA pacer Ali Khan played a pivotal role, dismantling the TSK middle order with three wickets in quick succession.Chand's performance is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite setbacks, he remains a force to be reckoned with. LAKR will look to build on their strong start when they face San Francisco Unicorns on July 8.