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Nearly two weeks after South Africa lost to India in T20 World Cup 2024 final in Barbados, skipper Aiden Markram and team management would be thinking maybe they won have tried Ryan Rickelton as opener instead of Reeza Hendricks. Rickelton in his first appearance at the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 scored an unbeaten 103 to help Seattle Orcas beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by nine wickets with one ball to spare.
Roy’s patient fifty
Earlier, Orcas skipper Heinrich Klaasen won the toss and opted to field first. Jason Roy got off to a decent start but skipper Sunil Narine fell to Zaman Khan on the first ball of the fourth over. After powerplay overs, Knight Riders were 40/1. Unmukt Chand struggled to score freely. He lost his wicket to Harmeet Singh in the 10th over. In the 12th over, Roy reached his fifty with a six from 39 balls. Harmeet returned to dismiss Shakib Al Hasan with a harmless delivery.
Miller’s cameo
David Miller made his intentions clear early on. He smashed a six to get Knight Riders to 100. In Imad Wasim's last over, Quinton de Kock missed a chance to stump Roy. It did not turn out to be expensive as Cameron Gannon dismissed the ENglish batter in 16th over. Roy scored 69 runs from 52 balls including five fours and four sixes. Zaman bowled an exceptional penultimate over and dismissed Andre Russell who hit a six in his 10-ball 14. In the final over, Miller went berserk and hit Nandre Burger for four fours and a six. His unbeaten 22-ball 44 helped Knight Riders post 168/5.
Rickleton leads the way
In the run chase, Spencer Johnson struck early to dismiss Nauman Anwar. Rickelton hit the first six of the run chase against Narine in the fourth over. Rickelton cleared the fence easily against Russell as well. Seattle Orcas were 51/1 after powerplay overs. Rickelton took on Russell again and hit him for three fours in the eighth over. The 27-year-old reached his fifty from 32 balls in the ninth over. At halfway stage, Seattle Orcas were 81/1. Quinton de Kock was yet to fire. Shakib paid the price for tossing it up as Rickelton whacked him for back-to-back sixes. De Kock joined the party in the 14th over. He hit Ali Khan for a six and a four.
Rickelton’s ton, De Kock’s fifty takes Orcas home
Rickelton's rampage continued. Corney Dry was hit for a six and two fours as Narine scratched his head. The skipper and Johnson bowled an economical over each to make it 14 runs in last two overs. In the penultimate over, Rickelton reached his maiden T20 century from 63 balls. Then De Kock hit a six to reach his fifty from 41 balls. Only three runs were required off the last over. Ali bowled a couple of dot balls but Rickelton sealed Orcas' win off the penultimate delivery. The unbeaten 152-run partnership helped Orcas register their first win of the tournament. Rickelton's 66-ball 103 was studded with nine fours and five sixes. On the other end, De Kock scored 51 runs from 46 balls included three fours and a couple of sixes.
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