Seattle Orcas Beat TSK by 9 Runs — MLC 2026 Match Report (Pomona)

Texas Super Kings (Playing XI): Saiteja Mukkamalla (wk), Faf du Plessis (c), Rilee Rossouw, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira, Wiaan Mulder, Dian Forrester, Calvin Savage, Adam Milne, Amshi de Silva, Abhimanyu Lamba

Texas Super Kings won the toss and elected to field.

The game is at Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex, Pomona — the same slow, seaming surface that produced a low-scoring thriller when TSK played LA Knight Riders here. TSK come into this fixture under pressure after four losses in seven; Seattle Orcas, meanwhile, started the season in dominant fashion before their own inconsistencies crept in. A victory here is critical for TSK's playoff hopes.

Head to Head: TSK vs Seattle Orcas

TSK lead 4–2 — though this fixture has a clear turning point. Seattle dominated early, winning both 2023 meetings by huge margins — including a 9-wicket Qualifier 1 win. Since then, TSK have won three in a row, with two of those victories by massive margins in 2025. TSK batted first in the Faf 112 game earlier this season and won by 6 wickets while chasing. The momentum is firmly with TSK in this fixture.

Key Battles: Who Dominates This Fixture

TSK's top performers vs Seattle Orcas: Faf du Plessis is in a different class — 268 runs in 6 matches at the extraordinary SR 171.8, no batter from either side comes close. Rilee Rossouw has been devastating in limited exposure — 49 runs in 1 innings at SR 222.7. Wiaan Mulder adds 31 runs in 1 innings at SR 193.8, and Shubham Ranjane has 90 runs in 3 matches at SR 147.5 — a consistent presence in this fixture. Calvin Savage chips in with 68 runs in 3 appearances (SR 138.8).

Seattle's danger men vs TSK: Quinton de Kock leads all scorers in this fixture — 167 runs in 3 matches at SR 149.1 — the most dangerous batter Seattle have in this matchup. Tim Seifert adds 104 runs in 1 match at SR 146.5 — explosive when he gets going. Shayan Jahangir (78 runs in 2 matches, SR 150.0) has been a consistent threat at the top, and Heinrich Klaasen (49 runs in 4 matches, SR 144.1) provides middle-order firepower.

Bowling picture: For TSK, Noor Ahmad leads wicket-takers in this fixture — 3 wickets in 3 matches at Eco 5.04 — but he is not in today's XI. Adam Milne has 2 wickets at Eco 8.00 — more expensive than usual but his new-ball ability is key. Amshi de Silva (1 wicket, Eco 8.40) and Calvin Savage (2 wickets, Eco 7.89) add variety. Lamba (2 wickets in this fixture) will be important if the surface grips.

For Seattle, CJ Gannon leads with 5 wickets across 5 meetings (Eco 9.98) — persistent and experienced in this matchup. Harmeet Singh adds 3 wickets at Eco 6.72 — the most economical wicket-taker for Seattle in this fixture. Jasdeep Singh (3 wickets, Eco 9.93) poses a new-ball threat.

Seattle Orcas Innings: Milne Rips Through the Top Order

Powerplay Demolition: Milne Takes Three as Seattle Crumble to 31-3

Electing to field on the familiar Pomona surface proved immediately correct for TSK. Adam Milne was unplayable with the new ball — three wickets in the powerplay, all in very different styles but all ruthlessly effective.

Seifert went first, slashing at a wide length delivery and getting more height than distance — the ball looped to Amshi de Silva at deep point, who lost his footing slightly but held on. Tim Seifert c de Silva b Milne 7(5), one six. Then Shayan Jahangir tried to defend a length delivery, got a thick outside edge, and Donovan Ferreira at slip swallowed it with those safe hands. Shayan Jahangir c Ferreira b Milne 3(10) — a tame end to a poor innings from their number three.

At the end of six overs — Seattle 31-3 — Shimron Hetmyer 2(5) and Ali Sheikh 13(10) at the crease. Milne with figures of 3-0-4-2, extraordinary on any surface. Seattle in deep trouble.

Middle Overs: Three More Wickets as Seattle Collapse to 67-6 at Drinks

The middle overs brought no relief. Matthew Breetzke — promoted to number three — tried to punch Mulder through the off-side and lobbed a simple catch to Adam Milne at cover. Breetzke c Milne b Mulder 4(6), one four. Hetmyer, desperate for something positive, cleared his front leg and hit the ball hard — but straight to Mukkamalla at midwicket who swallowed a sharp chance. Shimron Hetmyer c Mukkamalla b de Silva 11(15), one four. Ali Sheikh had been the lone bright spot with two fours and a six, but Lamba found his outside edge and Milne at slip held on. Ali Sheikh c Milne b Lamba 18(15). Stoinis, trying to kick-start the innings, could only chip a full delivery to Faf at long-on. Marcus Stoinis c du Plessis b de Silva 7(9) — six down at the drinks break.

At drinks — Seattle 67-6 after 12 overs — Dasun Shanaka 16(14) and the tail were all that remained. Whatever total Seattle posted from here, it would need everything to go right with the ball.

Death Overs: Shanaka Falls, Gannon Fights, de Silva Finishes It — Seattle 121-9

Shanaka at least gave the lower order something to aim for — he middled a straight one from Dian Forrester but only sent it back past the stumps, bowled for 16(14), one four. Seattle 78-7 with seven overs left and nothing but tail.

What followed was credit to the lower order rather than a collapse. Cameron Gannon dug in and played a proper innings — 20(21), one four, steady if not spectacular — before running himself out attempting a tight second run, Amshi de Silva hitting the stumps with Mukkamalla collecting at the non-striker's end. Harmeet Singh 13(11) not out and Jasdeep Singh 13(13) not out added useful runs in the final overs, and a debutant Ottneil Baartman was lbw first ball to de Silva to end the innings.

Seattle Orcas 121-9 (20 overs).

The bowling honours were overwhelming. Amshi de Silva was exceptional — 4-0-15-3, economy 3.80 — the standout figures of the innings and arguably the best spell of his MLC career on this surface. Adam Milne did the early damage as ever — 4-0-10-2, economy 2.50 — making the new ball irrelevant for Seattle's top order. Dian Forrester (1-24), Abhimanyu Lamba (1-24), and Wiaan Mulder (1-40) shared the remaining wickets. Only Mulder went for runs, and by then the game was already buried.

121 to win. TSK need 50-odd from their average batter on a surface that has helped bowlers all day.

TSK Chase: Baartman Wrecks the Top Order, Shanaka Finishes the Job

Powerplay: Baartman's 3-9 Leaves TSK Reeling at 35-3

The chase began in disaster. Ottneil Baartman — playing just his first MLC match — was extraordinary with the new ball on a surface tailor-made for his style. He hit a full length on middle stump first ball to Faf, who looked to flick it fine and got pinned in front. Umpire raised the finger immediately. Faf du Plessis lbw b Baartman 14(8) — one four, one six — a bright start to the chase snuffed out in a single delivery.

Baartman was not done. A delivery that shaped back in late trapped Mukkamalla trying to play it square; Cameron Gannon swooped at extra cover as the bat came down and held a brilliant low catch. Saiteja Mukkamalla c Gannon b Baartman 6(8), one six. Two down inside four overs. Then Jasdeep Singh removed Rossouw — a length delivery cutting back in just enough, Hetmyer at midwicket swallowing a skied pull — Rilee Rossouw c Hetmyer b Jasdeep Singh 4(9) — and the collapse was complete.

At the powerplay — TSK 35-3 — Shubham Ranjane 8(11) and the middle order facing a mountain. Baartman: 3-0-9-2 from his first three overs. Extraordinary on debut.

Middle Overs: Ranjane and Mulder Crawl to 50-3, Then Mulder Falls (61-4)

The pitch was doing too much for strokeplay. Ranjane and Mulder played out of their skins just to keep runs ticking — a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket was built ball by ball, boundary by boundary, with almost nothing coming easy. At drinks — TSK 50-3 after 10 overs — Ranjane 15(21), Mulder 7(14). The required rate had crept past 8 and the surface was not getting any easier.

Mulder fell immediately after the break — Baartman returned to complete his spell and produced a short delivery Mulder tried to pull, the top edge looping to Seifert behind the stumps — Wiaan Mulder c Seifert b Baartman 7(15). 61-4 after 13 — Forrester 4(11), Ranjane 21(27) — 61 needed from 7 overs with the asking rate nudging 8.7.

Death Overs: Ferreira Keeps Hope Alive, Then Shanaka Ends It with Four in Four

After Mulder's dismissal, Forrester and Ranjane tried to rebuild — but Stoinis found the outside edge off Forrester, Seifert gathered cleanly, and the review confirmed the nick. Dian Forrester c Seifert b Stoinis 11(17) — five down. After 17 overs, 85-5 — Ranjane 34(40), Ferreira just in — 37 needed from 3.

Ferreira took the game by the scruff of it. He launched Jasdeep Singh for a six and then a four in the 19th over, making the equation suddenly manageable — 107-5 after 19 overs, 15 needed from the last, Ferreira on 22(15), Ranjane on 35(42). Dasun Shanaka — captain, middle-order bat, largely quiet until now — picked up the ball.

Ranjane hit the first ball through the covers for four. 10 from 5 balls. Still alive. Ferreira faced the next delivery — Shanaka's slower leg-cutter refused to bounce, Ferreira crouched and swung hard across the line and was bowled through the gate. Donovan Ferreira b Shanaka 22(16). Savage came in swinging, got another leg-cutter, could only send it straight to Hetmyer at long-on. Calvin Savage c Hetmyer b Shanaka 0(1). Milne tried to clear midwicket, got an outside edge off yet another length leg-cutter — easy catch for Seifert. Adam Milne c Seifert b Shanaka 0(1) — hat-trick for Dasun Shanaka. de Silva had no time to settle — a full, off-speed delivery, top-edged the swipe and Hetmyer ran in from long-on, diving forward to complete a superb catch. Amshi de Silva c Hetmyer b Shanaka 0(1) — four wickets in four deliveries.

TSK 112-9 (20 overs). Lamba did not bat.

Result: Seattle Orcas Won by 9 Runs

Seattle Orcas beat Texas Super Kings by 9 runs at Knight Riders Cricket Field, Fairplex, Pomona.

Defending 121 on a surface that had looked desperately low, Seattle were magnificent. Baartman's debut spell — 3-9 from four overs — a figure that belongs in highlights packages, not debut scorecards — put the match in Seattle's hands before the 20th ball was bowled. Milne and de Silva had done the groundwork in the first innings; Shanaka and Baartman made sure TSK could not respond.

Ranjane's unbeaten 40(44) — five fours, the only innings of quality in the TSK chase — deserves credit in a losing cause. He batted through 14 wicket-falls to remain stranded and unbeaten when the last wicket fell. But on this surface, against this bowling, it was simply not enough.

For TSK, this is a fifth defeat in eight. The playoff race has no margin for error now. 💛