New Delhi: Los Angeles Knight Riders won their maiden Major League Baseball (MLC) title on Saturday, defeating Washington Liberty by one run in a thrilling final at the Oakland Coliseum in California.Washington needed 14 runs from the final over and looked the most promising after Obus Pienaar hit a six off the first ball. But Shadli van Schalkewijk took three wickets in the last five deliveries, including a run off the last ball, sparking wild celebrations as the Knight Riders became the latest MLC champions.MI New York won the title for the first time in 2023 and again in 2025, while Washington Liberty lifted the trophy in 2024.
Knight Rider No. 164
The Washington Liberty won the toss and elected to field. Los Angeles, who batted first, were bowled out for 164 in 19.4 overs.Andre Fletcher’s 47 off 27 balls gave the game momentum while Colin Munro hit 40 off 29 balls. After Andre Russell failed to bowl, Matthew Tromp scored a crucial 39 runs in 21 deliveries, hitting 3 fours and 3 sixes.Washington kept countering with wickets. Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/31, while Rachin Ravindra (2/23), Nikhil Chaudhary (2/32) and Mitchell Owen (2/14) bowled out the Knight Riders.
Narine and Holder conduct LAKR
With Sunil Narine breaking through the top order, Washington Freedom never found early momentum in the chase. The left-arm spinner dismissed Mitchell Owen (9), Steven Smith (8) and Rachin Ravindra (7) to finish with magnificent figures of 3/13.Captain Jason Holder then hit three important knocks, dismissing Andries Gous (40), Nikhil Chaudhary (25) and Ben Dwarshuis (1), finishing with 3/31.In the 16th inning, the Cavaliers were firmly in control with a score of 109/6.
Pienaar almost took away the title
Pienaar launched a stunning fightback, blasting 53 off just 24 balls, including three fours and five sixes, to drag Washington Liberty back into the game. His half-century left Washington needing 14 runs in the final over, creating a dramatic finale.
Shadley excels under pressure
The final game had it all. Pienaar started with six-over extra cover, reducing the equation from five balls to the required eight.Van Schalkewijk responded immediately with a perfect yorker that hit Pienaar’s stumps to remove the set-piece batsman at the most crucial moment.The next ball, Ian Holland tried to clear the infield but only found Jason Holder at long off, putting Washington in trouble.Rocky Ferguson then continued the chase with a boundary and then hit a single, leaving Lahiru Miranta needing three off the last ball.Miransa completed the first point but was dismissed while trying for the second, with goalkeeper Jamal Hamilton completing the run-out to seal a dramatic one-point victory for the Knight Riders.
