GRAND PRAIRIE: David Miller scored a swashbuckling half-century before Mohammad Mohsin’s four-fer muscled Texas Super Kings to thrash Los Angeles Knight Riders in the opening match of the inaugural Major League Cricket (MLC).
Put into bat first in the first-ever fixture of the league’s history, the Super Kings put on a dominant show with the bat and piled up a commendable total of 181/6 at the back of magnificent half-centuries by Devon Conway and David Miller.
The Super Kings had a contrasting start to their innings as the side lost their first wicket in the second over with just 12 runs on the scoreboard as Faf du Plessis bagged a golden duck.
Lahiru Milantha joined Devon Conway in the middle after the early setback and put on a brief partnership which saw the pair adding 31 runs to the total.
With the home side reeling at 43/2 inside the batting powerplay, Conway then received subtle support in the form of experienced David Miller.
The pair stitched a 77-run partnership for the third wicket and scored at a brisk rate before Adam Zampa found a much-needed breakthrough for the Knight Riders as he got rid of Conway.
The left-handed batter scored 55 off 37 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries and a six.
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Miller then put on a brief partnership with Milind Kumar (2) before Lockie Ferguson put an end to his sensational knock in the 18th over.
He top-scored for the Super Kings with a 42-ball 61 which featured two boundaries and four sixes.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo then gave final touches to Super Kings’ batting expedition as he bolstered his side’s total to 181/6 with a 16-run cameo.
Ali Khan and Lockie Ferguson bagged two wickets each for Knight Riders while Sunil Narine and Adam Zampa could pick one apiece.
Set to chase 182, Mohammad Mohsin-led Super Kings’ bowling attack ran through the Knight Riders’ batting lineup which could accumulate a meagre 112 before bundling out in 14 overs.
Andre Russell waged a lone battle for the Knight Riders with a gutsy half-century but lack of support from the other end barred him from pulling a miraculous victory for his side.
He top-scored with a 34-ball 55, laced up with seven boundaries and three sixes.
Wicketkeeper batter Jaskaran Malhotra (22) and skipper Sunil Narine (15) were the other notable run-getters for the Knight Riders which became the first side to suffer a defeat in the MLC history.
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