Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Texas Super Kings, 18th Match, Major League Cricket 2026 - CommentaryLAKR vs TSK, 18th Match, Major League Cricket 2026 - Commentary

Today, the surface at Pomona was better for strokeplay and we saw a couple of fantastic knocks. Powell's blitzkrieg overshadowed Mukkamalla's well-paced knock and the big West Indian took the Knight Riders to an important win after they had lost three games on the trot. All the six teams are now tied on six points, which just goes to show how close this season has been. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. Tomorrow, a double-header is coming your way. Get ready for some more high-octane action. Till then, goodbye and take care!

Jason Holder | Los Angeles Knight Riders captain: (On the topsy-turvy game and getting the job done) Credit to the boys. We played a really good game of cricket. We were able to get over the line. Something I said to the boys yesterday in our team meeting was that it just takes an individual piece of brilliance from one person. Rovman stood up today, supported by Munro. It was an entire team effort as well from us in the field. We probably weren't at our best with the ball, but there's obviously room for improvement. (On Narine and van Schalkwyk) Two good spells from two good bowlers. Credit to Shadley. He came in and did a really good job for me. I just wanted him to go as deep as he possibly could. He kept things tight. He didn't get the wickets I was looking for, but his role was so crucial. It allowed the others to really express themselves. We were trying to get some wickets rather than just stop runs at the back end because we felt a little bit under pressure. But that's the way the game goes. Credit to us for holding our nerve, and then credit to our batters for holding their nerve in the chase. (On the sensational knocks from Powell and Munro) You said it - two sensational innings from two great characters. Munro is outstanding. You can't keep a good man down. He's one of those guys who just keeps coming. His energy in the dressing room is very infectious, and he's one of the leaders in our dressing room. He stood up for us today, so credit to him. His innings was crucial in terms of holding things together and allowing someone like Rovman to come in and express himself around him.

Rovman Powell | Most Valuable Player: (On how he changed the game so quickly with Munro) At the halfway stage, I told the guys that it was a better wicket. Obviously, we played on a wicket the other night where we struggled as batters, but I told them at the halfway mark that it was a better wicket, one that you could trust your stroke play on. Tonight, things came together nicely. We were in a little bit of trouble, and it was good for one of the experienced guys, myself and Colin Munro, to get the team over the line. (On being particularly dominant against anything short) I think it's just a matter of clarity. I was very clear in what I wanted to do. There's a big side, so I knew they were going to try to force me to hit the ball to the big side. But I made a conscious effort and said to myself that if I hit the ball well to the big side, it's still six. I wasn't 50-50, I was 100% clear in what I was trying to do. (On the importance of this win) It's massive. The people of Los Angeles came out and supported us. It's fantastic to see the crowd, and I hope they come out tomorrow and support us again so we can put on a show for them. It's been fantastic. When you look at the points table, this win is important. We were languishing at the bottom of the table after three defeats in a row. The dressing room morale was a little bit damaged, but tonight the guys should get a little bit of confidence knowing that we can win a game from any position.

Faf du Plessis | Texas Super Kings captain: (On their batting) Walking off after, I felt like it was a really good score. The guys batted really well. They hung in on a tricky surface initially, and then got through to what I thought was a really good score. You never know without giving away chances in an innings like that, but chances play a big role in innings like that. (On whether conditions played a role or did they misexecute?) No, he (Powell) obviously batted really well there. What someone like that does is put the bowlers under pressure. The bowling then goes away from the right lengths because of the pressure and the way he's batting. The brute hitting there was some beautiful striking from him, and it put the bowlers on the back foot to bowl a bit easier. That's always the cat-and-mouse game between bat and ball, and I thought he did that really well tonight.

22:00 Local Time, 05:00 GMT, 10:30 IST: What a run-chase from the Knight Riders! They have lifted themselves from the bottom to the fourth position on the points table. At the halfway stage in the second innings, LAKR were struggling (51/2) and reaching the target was looking far-fetched. Tromp holed out in the 11th over. Powell came in and batted with flair and intent from the word-go. He showcased his power-hitting abilities and accessed all parts of the ground with consummate ease. The big West Indian changed the complexion of the game with his 27-ball 73-run knock. The TSK seamers were under the pump and lost the plot. They offered freebies too and the duo of Powell and Munro capitalised. Munro was dropped on 21 by Ranjane and that also cost TSK big time as the Kiwi went on to score an unbeaten fifty. The 107-run stand off just 41 deliveries between the duo turned the game on its head. Earlier, Mukkamalla's 80 off 55 powered the Super Kings to an above-par total on a slightly two-paced surface. They also begun well with the ball and had things under control but Powell was in his elements tonight and snatched the game away from the opposition with his blitzkrieg. Stick around for the presentations...

Amshi de Silva to Rovman Powell, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!