Los Angeles Knight Riders win first MLC title with 1-run win over Steve Smith’s Washington Freedom

Los Angeles Knight Riders, led by Jason Holder, clinched their first Major League Cricket (MLC) title during the final match against Washington Freedom. The Knight Riders claimed a narrow one-run victory over the Steve Smith-led side in the final match at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday, July 18 (local time).

MI New York and Washington Freedom had won two titles each in the last four seasons. After failing to qualify in all their previous attempts, newly appointed captain Jason Holder turned the franchise’s fortunes around by winning on the biggest stage. He defended 164 runs in the summit clash to win the title.

Los Angeles Knight Riders clinch first MLC title with thrilling one-run win

Sunil Narine destroyed Washington Freedom’s top order with a brilliant spell of four overs. The 38-year-old spinner dismissed Mitchell Owen early. He also dismissed Rachin Ravindra and Steve Smith in the same over.

With Washington Freedom struggling at 29/3 inside five overs, Andries Gaus and Nikhil Choudhary put on a vital 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Captain Jason Holder dismissed Nikhil Chaudhary for 25 and Ben Dwarshuis for one run in the same over.

He later removed the dangerous Andries Gaus, leaving Washington Freedom at 109/6. Obus Pienaar played a brilliant innings and scored his first T20 half-century. He scored 15 runs in both the 18th and 19th overs, reducing the target by 14 runs from the final over.

During the last over, Shadley Van Schalkwyk hit a six on the first ball. When Washington Freedom needed eight runs from five balls, he bowled a precise yorker to dismiss Obus Pienaar for 53.

After two quick wickets, Lockie Ferguson hit a four and took a single, leaving three runs needed off the last ball. The batsmen tried to score two runs but failed, as Los Angeles Knight Riders won a thrilling one-run victory and won their first MLC title.

Knight Riders family moves closer to MI in all-time T20 trophy race

The Knight Riders family moved closer to the Mumbai Indians (MI) family in the list of most successful T20 franchises. The MI family is on top with 13 trophies, while the Knight Riders family has 10.

The MI family has won five IPL titles, two Champions League T20 titles, two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles, two MLC titles, one ILT20 title and one SA20 title. The Knight Riders family has won three IPL titles, five Caribbean Premier League (CPL) titles, one Women’s CPL title and one MLC title.

Knight Riders Group has franchises in India, the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The group uses the same coaching setup, scouting network and squad-building strategy across all its teams under CEO Venky Mysore.

How many trophies has the Knight Riders franchise won?

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