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West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer is changing Seattle Orcas' fortunes on one leg. Despite injury, Hetmyer's strike rate has not taken a hit. Within 24 hours, Hetmyer has changed the course of the match in Orcas' favour as they have kept their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 playoffs chances alive with second on the trot after five consecutive losses. Hetmyer's unbeaten 26-ball 64 helped Seattle Orcas chase down 203 against Los Angeles Knight Riders by six wickets with one ball to spare and move to fourth position on the points table.
"Tired. Very very tired. But I am thankful that we could get across the line and continue to do so. I go back to prayers, me and my wife pray a lot before the game. Once we have a decent enough start it makes it easier for the guys lower down. Actually really happy where my game is at, leg is a little bit of a worry but I will get it looked at," Hetmyer said after his match-winning knock.
Poor start for Knight Riders
Earlier, Seattle Orcas captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl first. Orcas' bowlers did well a day after conceded 237. LA Knight Riders had 41/1 on the board after powerplay overs. In the sixth over, Harmeet Singh dismissed Andre Fletcher for a 23-ball 26. Then, Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil dismissed Unmukt Chand for a 13-ball 11. Sherfane Rutherford could not inflict damage and fell for a single-digit score to Ayan Desai. Andre Russell walked out to bat at no.4 and shared a crucial partnership with Saif Badar, laden with fours and sixes. In the 14th over, Badar hit Desai for three sixes. But Badar could not carry on fell to Salamkheil in the 15th over for a 21-ball 41.
Russell, Powell take Knight Riders past 200
Russell reached his fifty from 32 balls. Rovman Powell did not take much time to get going. He hit Jessy Singh for two sixes in a row. In the next over, his catch was dropped by skipper Raza off Kyle Mayers' bowling. Desai was given the penultimate over and conceded 20 runs. Russell and Powell hit him all around the park. In the final over, Powell hit a six and a four off Jessy to take LA Knight Riders to 202/4. He remained unbeaten for 43 off 21 deliveries. On the other end, Russell scored 65 runs from 39 balls.
Jones leads the chase
In the run chase, opener Josh Brown handed a simple catch to Russell at mid-off as he attempted to clear the 30-yard circle against skipper Jason Holder. Brown fell for a two-ball duck. Holder created another chance in his second over but Rutherford dropped Shayan Jahangir's catch. Aaron Jones found boundaries during fielding restrictions. Orcas were 53/1 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Jones reached his fifty from 27 deliveries in the eighth over. In the 10th over, Jones took down Shadley van Schalkwyk. After Jahangir's six, Jones hit him for a four and six. At the halfway stage, Orcas were 108/1.
Hetmyer - the finisher, does his job
In the 12th over, Holder introduced himself into the attack. He brought Knight Riders back in the game with the wicket of Jones who scored 73 runs from 38 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. In the next over, Tanveer Sangha struck twice. Jahangir went for a big shot but was caught at long-off. He departed for a 31-ball 43. Heinrich Klaasen could not dom much damage and departed for a single-digit score. Hetmyer did not take much time to settle. He hit Sangha for a couple of sixes. Skipper Raza struggled in the middle and lost his wicket to Russell. But Hetmyer remained unfazed. He relied on big hits and reached his fifty from just 18 balls. In the final over, five runs were needed. Once again, under pressure, Hetmyer hit a six to finish off the run chase. His knock of 26-ball 64 was studded with four fours and six sixes.
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