The Texas Super Kings bounced back in style at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, defeating the Los Angeles Knight Riders by 52 runs to snap their two-match losing streak in the Major League Cricket 2025 season. Batting first after being put in by LAKR, TSK posted a strong total of 196/8, thanks to a commanding innings from Shubham Ranjane.
His 70 off 45 balls, studded with six fours and four sixes, laid the foundation for a big score. Donovan Ferreira added fireworks in the latter part of the innings, blasting 43 off just 21 balls, which included three towering sixes and four boundaries. For LAKR, Andre Russell and Shadley van Schalkwyk were the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets apiece.
Chasing 197 for victory, LAKR faltered under pressure and could only manage 144/7 in their 20 overs. Unmukt Chand was steady but slow, scoring 30 off 30, while captain Jason Holder tried to salvage the innings with a late unbeaten 26 off 17 balls.
However, the Texas Super Kings’ spinners dominated proceedings, with Noor Ahmad (2/27) and Akeal Hosein (2/10) tightening the screws in the middle overs. The win pushed TSK up to second place in the MLC 2025 points table, while LAKR slumped to their fourth loss in five games, placing them near the bottom of the standings.
TSK had looked poised for a total in excess of 200, particularly after the fifth-wicket stand between Ranjane and Ferreira produced a blistering 82 runs off just 40 deliveries. With 11 balls remaining and the scoreboard reading 178/4, the stage was perfectly set for a final flourish. But a bizarre run-out derailed their momentum and ended what was otherwise a powerful batting performance.
The moment of confusion came during the penultimate over, bowled by Ali Khan. After being hit for a six off the first delivery, Khan bowled a short ball that flew over Ferreira’s head. Expecting an overhead wide to be signaled, Ferreira remained rooted at the striker’s end, watching the ball.
Meanwhile, Ranjane took off from the non-striker’s end, eager to rotate the strike. Caught unaware, both batters ended up at the same end as the ball ricocheted off the keeper Unmukt Chand and rolled to Sherfane Rutherford at short third man.
Look away, Super Kings fans 🙈 Donovan Ferreira gets run out on 43 after hitting a 324ft six ‼️ pic.twitter.com/2Ab6Z95oqh
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 25, 2025
Rutherford quickly relayed the ball to Ali Khan, who calmly removed the bails at the other end as Ferreira desperately tried to make it back. The South African all-rounder was visibly frustrated with Ranjane’s call, shaking his head in disbelief as he walked off. Though the dismissal didn’t cost TSK the match, it certainly cost them a shot at breaching the 200-run mark and added a touch of drama to an otherwise dominant win.