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RESULTFinal • LAKR vs WSF
LAKR
Winner
164
WSF
20 ov, T:165163/9

Los Angeles won by 1 run

Final, Oakland, July 18, 2026, Major League Cricket
Player of the Match
0 (2)
Match Impact Leader

115

Points

View Full Impact List

Scorecard Summary

Los Angeles Knight Riders1st Innings
164/10
(19.4 Ov)
Dwarshuis3/31 (4)
40 (29)
Owen2/14 (1.4)
Washington Freedom2nd Innings
163/9
(20 Ov)
53 (24)
Narine3/13 (4)
40 (35)
Holder3/31 (4)

Most Valuable Players (Impact)

RankPlayerTIBatBowl
1115-6121
21011010
378780
475-781
567-370

Match Report

11000 fans were at the ground this evening and they witnessed a banger. It gives the perfect ending to a burgeoning tournament in the biggest country in the world. Thanks for joining here along the journey. Hope to see you again. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, Deiva, our scorers Ranjith and Sudeep, and everyone here from Cricinfo who help cover this tournament.
The team's ready on the stage. Holder collects the trophy and raises it. The cheers are big, as are the smiles as the confetti bursts and floods the air around. Russell's down, and the entire team behind him raise their hands with him as he lifts the trophy. Bravo now has the trophy as the cameras come out for photos. Bravo and Watson are all smiles with the trophy in hand.
Jason Holder, LAKR captain: Credit to each individual for playing their part. Crowd came out and supported us. It started with one or two people and spread across the belief, Bravo helped a lot. Off the field, on the field, my message to the boys is to have fun. One of the best ways to enjoy is by winning. We picked momentum at the right time after a dip in the middle. Special thanks to the organisers and to Freedom. Special year in a new stadium. We've had tough times in the past, credit to each individual and the win is a testament to our hard work and belief.
Time for the players to get their medals
Sunil Narine, MVP: Words can't describe how I'm feeling, trying to embrace the moment. We struggled for three seasons. The team, support staff gelled together with plans and we executed to the best of our ability. No matter how much cricket you play, you have to put in the hours. Everyone bought in this year, which is amazing. Bowling in the powerplay was down to our crazy coach Bravo. You have to buy in and trust his experience. Thankfully it worked. Award means a lot to me, family members and support staff.
Andries Gous, Highest run scorer (547): Proud of myself. Thanks to support staff, father. Bittersweet at the moment. From the start, I felt I was batting well. At the end, it clicked and I just got going on a roll and kept going. The team's dear for the heart, motivated to win games for Washington Freedom.
Sunil Narine, Leading wicket-taker (Joint holder with 18 but his economy of 4.74 is by far the best)
Andries Gous, Domestic Player of the Tournament
Under-23 Player of the Tournament: Matthew Tromp: It's been an incredible season. We're lifting the title, it's awesome. I've got the best coaches, they've given incredible confidence. I started at 9 this season, and I felt ready when I got the opportunity. Biggest stage I've played on but kept things simple. Nervous when I walked out. Big crowd. Just tried to enjoy it and be grateful.
8:51pm: Time for the presentation
Amogh B.: "Electrifying feeling in the stadium, what a final! GGs LAKR!"
Steven Smith, Washington Freedom captain: Total was gettable. Thought we pulled it back nicely with the ball. Three wickets in the powerplay always hurts. Sunny's exceptional. But guys have showed great character. Not trying to overthink it against Narine, hard to get him away on a pitch like that. You'll struggle if you don't read him. Proud of the team. Have played really good cricket to make three finals. Credit should go down to LA tonight.
A final that deserved top billing. It was as juicy tactically as it was in terms of drama. Think Narine bowling three in the powerplay and taking Smith out with a ripper. Think Gous steering the innings along with Chaudhary before cashing in when Ali and Schalkwyk missed their mark. Narine had to be brought back, he was seen off, but Holder took two in the next over. The game seemed all but done when Gous fell. Then Pienaar created a clinical torrent. Such was his assault that it was 50/50 even when he fell in the final over.
Ali Khan: Much needed for the franchise. Overseas came in with the experience, locals pitched in. Hands still stitched, I was ready to go even last game but wasn't cleared. Lucky to be part of this occasion.
Sunil Narine: It's good, first three seasons were tough. Got on a winning spree. Total team effort. Thankful to God for blessing me with the skill and perform at the stage.
Andre Fletcher: Was saying to the guys that the injury I got was for a reason. Was praying and praying and I got here (pulls off a dance in the end)
Matthew Tromp: Bravo said we'll do it for the GOATS, Russell and Narine In the moment, just got under and took the catch. But was nervous at the start.
Andre Russell: Age is a number, experience is everything. We play well collectively as a team and deserve to celebrate. Every time I win for this franchise, I get teary eyed. Can't take it for granted when you play for over a decade. Another one for the family. Happy to celebrate with my brother here. Will be loud
Rovman Powell: It means everything. I've played for Knight Riders for many years, never won it. We planned and pulled it off.
Nagesh: "What an exciting Finals MLC2026 Same as last year. "
8:23pm: Schalkwyk and Hamilton both talk about keeping it simple. Hamilton about just taking the stumps out and not thinking about anything else, and Schalkwyk about bowling without worrying about the result. Not sure how he did it but he did.

Recent Commentary

Over20

12 runs, 3 wickets

Need 2 from 0b

WSF 163/9
CRR: 8.15RRR: 2.00
Ferguson5 (2b)
19.6
W

van Schalkwyk to Milantha

ONE BUT NOT TWO, LAKR WIN THEIR MAIDEN MLC TITLE IN THEIR FIRST FINAL! The entire team is running on adrenaline, Bravo's beating them all. Now he's dancing with the team, fireworks go off. Ponting's stoic but you can feel the dismay. It was that close. This looked like two when Milantha reached forward and got the yorker towards the vacant mid-on area despite being early into the shot. He had to cover a greater distance than the non-striker, who started early. Schalkwyk ran back towards the ball like his life depended on it. Throw was wide to the keeper, the fielder at the non-striker's took off the bails in sheer adrenaline. Hamilton, in front of the stumps, reached out and took out the stumps like Buttler did in the 2019 WC final.
19.5
1

van Schalkwyk to Ferguson

Run out? NO, Schalkwyk doesn't collect it and it goes to long-on. Milantha ran as soon as the ball was released if not before. Yorker was jammed to the bowler's right, went through the forearm
19.4
4

van Schalkwyk to Ferguson

Looks for the boundary, gets it! Low, wide full toss. Ferguson reaches out and drives it hard along the ground between deep cover and point. Not too bad a ball, but this game is something else
19.3
W

van Schalkwyk to Holland

Goodness! Thought that was six at first but that's gone to Holder, miles inside the long-off boundary. Holland got across, Schalkwyk went wide and fullish. Finished on the tramline, Holland was off-balance but did well to slap it. Off the bottom of the bat, Holder takes it and is as charged as he was at the first ball. TWO IN TWO FOR SCHALKWYK
19.2
W

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Too far across and Schalkwyk blasts through the back door! That's hit middle stump, would you that's how far across Pienaar had gotten. Scrambled-seam yorker, beat the flick as the batter wasn't behind it
19.1
6

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Downed! Fifty up, Pienaar's cool but Maxwell and Smith at the dugout are pumped! Near yorker outside off, tonks a drive over long-off. Straight bat
Over19

15 runs, 0 wickets

Need 14 from 6b

WSF 151/6
CRR: 7.95RRR: 14.00
Pienaar47 (22b)
Milantha3 (3b)
Ali Khan4-0-40-0
18.6
1

Ali Khan to Pienaar

Goodness how slow is that?! Short and outside off, no bounce at ll. Pienaar bunts a pull towards square leg. Never wanted more than one. Ali chased hurriedly
18.5
0

Ali Khan to Pienaar

Premeditation works against Pienaar. Went across well outside off, looked to reverse scoop it off a length. Slower one messes with his timing and his hands flinch. Beaten
18.4
4

Ali Khan to Pienaar

That's a sexy flick! No back-lift or follow-through, just fast hands while rolling the wrist and the low full toss on leg stump goes between deep midwicket and square leg for a one-bounce four. Pienaar's highest T20 score now
18.3
0

Ali Khan to Pienaar

Pienaar backs away. Ali takes all the pace out of it. Goes into the pitch just outside off. Pienaar shapes to cut, then stops then feebly twirls his bat and gets beaten
18.2
6

Ali Khan to Pienaar

Deep third in play... sails over him! Schalkwyk on that short boundary, dives up and back, reaching back but can't get close. Just 55 metres! Full and wide, Pienaar scraping the drive. Coaching booths charged up too
18.1
4

Ali Khan to Pienaar

Buffet ball, lucky it's just four Ali. Slow on a back of length. Went away but sat up nicely for a flat-bat pull down the ground
Over18

15 runs, 0 wickets

Need 29 from 12b

WSF 136/6
CRR: 7.56RRR: 14.50
Pienaar32 (16b)
Milantha3 (3b)
17.6
1

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Full just outside off, drilled to long-off. 15 off, up with the rate
17.6
1

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Pienaar well outside off but that length ball finished outside the pitch. When it reached the keeper that is. Let go
17.5
0

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Good keeping, stops four. Hamilton smacked on the thigh. Was a fullish ball angling away. Pienaar went across for another sweep. Hamilton somehow behind it
17.4
6

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

That's brilliant! Pienaar was nearly on one knee, seeming like he was collapsing. Somehow managed to slap the full ball going further away from him, over long-off
17.3
6

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Swept behind square! Not thad bad a ball despite the length not being perfect. Full and well outside off, bowling to the field. Pienaar gets across and inside the line to open up the other side
17.2
0

van Schalkwyk to Pienaar

Yorker around sixth. All Pienaar can do is jam it through cover. Doesn't take the single. Fair call have to say
17.1
1

van Schalkwyk to Milantha

Full outside off, drives it to deep cover
Over17

10 runs, 0 wickets

Need 44 from 18b

WSF 121/6
CRR: 7.12RRR: 14.67
Milantha2 (2b)
Pienaar19 (11b)
Russell4-0-27-0
16.6
1

Russell to Milantha

That was a surprising shot. Milantha happy to knock a flick to long-on. That was very full but not the yorker that Russell inteded

Match Details

Teams
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Knight Riders
Winner
Washington
Washington Freedom
Ground
Oakland Coliseum,Oakland
Series
Major League Cricket
Season
2026
Hours of play (local time)
16.30 start, First Session 16.30-18.00, Interval 18.00-18.20, Second Session 18.20-19.50
Match days
18 July 2026 - night (T20-over match)
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee