MLC
Shakib contributes well in Los Angeles Knight Riders’ MLC win
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In his debut match for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC), Shakib Al Hasan experienced a mix of luck and challenges.
The veteran Bangladeshi all-rounder began with a boundary off the outside edge of his bat on the first ball and followed it with another four off an inside edge. However, his fortunes didn't hold for long as he struggled both with the bat and the ball.
Playing at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas early Saturday morning Bangladesh time, Shakib couldn't make a significant impact against the Texas Super Kings. He scored 18 runs off 13 balls before being dismissed, and his bowling was limited to three overs by Sunil Narine. Despite taking the wicket of Aaron Hardie, Shakib conceded 32 runs.
Shakib came in to bat in the third over after Jason Roy and Narine were dismissed cheaply. He edged a short delivery from Zia-ul-Haq to third man for a boundary and later inside-edged a full-length delivery to fine leg for another four. He also hooked a short ball from Gerald Coetzee for his third boundary. However, his innings ended in the seventh over when he mistimed a length ball outside off-stump, offering a simple catch to Faf du Plessis at mid-off.
With the ball, Shakib was brought into the attack after the powerplay. He conceded 10 runs in his first over, including a wide. In his second over, Hardie hit him for a six. Shakib quickly responded by having Hardie caught behind attempting a cut shot. However, Devon Conway struck him for a six and a four in consecutive deliveries in his third over. Shakib didn't get another chance to bowl after that.
Despite Shakib's lackluster performance, Los Angeles emerged victorious by 12 runs. Unmukt Chand's 68 off 45 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes, helped Los Angeles post a total of 162 for 7. Ali Khan's four-wicket haul for 33 runs restricted Texas to 150 for 8.