Andre Russell snared three wickets to lead the Los Angeles Knight Riders’ bowling effort, but the Caribbean-powered franchise once again faltered with the bat and suffered a crushing 52-run defeat to Akeal Hosein’s Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket action at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.

The loss was LAKR’s fourth in five matches, as their miserable MLC 2025 campaign continued and left them languishing fifth on the table with just two points. In stark contrast, the Super Kings climbed to second with their fourth win in six outings, boosted by a dominant all-round performance.

Scores: Texas Super Kings 196-8 (20 overs); LA Knight Riders 144-7 (20 overs)

LAKR had reasons to be optimistic early on. After choosing to bowl, they reduced TSK to 33-3 inside four overs, thanks to a fiery burst from Shadley van Schalkwyk, who removed Faf du Plessis (12), Saiteja Mukkamalla (nine), and Marcus Stoinis, who departed for a golden duck.

But the momentum quickly shifted.

Akeal Hosein celebrates one of his two wickets. (Photos: Sportzpics for MLC)

Opener Smit Patel, who struck four boundaries in a 33-ball 38, and Shubham Ranjane, with 70 off 45, steadied the ship with a 64-run partnership before Russell had Patel caught by Sherfane Rutherford in the 12th over. However, Donovan Ferreira then took charge with a 21-ball 43, highlighted by a brutal assault on Russell and van Schalkwyk.

His knock, which included four fours and three sixes, sparked a late surge as TSK plundered 82 runs from just 40 balls. However, Ferreira and Ranjane, who had six fours and four sixes in his knock, fell in quick succession, and Russell returned to claim Hosein (five) and Noor Ahmad (six), but the damage was done. 

In reply, LAKR’s batting once again crumbled. Hosein landed two quick blows in the second over, as he bowled Nitish Kumar for a golden duck and removed Alex Hales (five) shortly after.

From there, the innings never recovered. Saif Badar (19), Unmukt Chand (30), and Sherfane Rutherford (13) all struggled to up the tempo, while Rovman Powell (21) and Russell (two) failed to spark any sort of counterattack. Despite a late flourish from Jason Holder, who made an unbeaten 17-ball 26, LAKR limped to the end with van Schalkwyk also unbeaten on 13.

Noor Ahmad's clever wrist spin saw him end with 2-27, while Hosein had 2-10.