LA Knight Riders are the MLC 2026 champions, defeating Washington Freedom by one run in a final that went down to the last ball at Oakland Coliseum. Washington Freedom won the toss and chose to bowl, with LAKR posting 164 all out from 19.4 overs on the back of contributions from Andre Fletcher, Colin Munro and Matthew Tromp. Obus Pienaar then produced a rapid 53 to push Freedom to the brink of the target, but a double strike from Shadley van Schalkwyk in the last over and a run out off the final ball left Washington Freedom on 163 for 9 — one run short. It is LAKR’s first MLC title, reached in their first final appearance in four seasons, while Freedom’s bid for a second title fell just short. The final drew a crowd of 11,000, a record attendance for Major League Cricket.
Fletcher and Munro power LAKR to a competitive total
Andre Fletcher and Colin Munro shared a 66-run opening stand to give LAKR a fast start after being sent in. Fletcher made 47 off 27 balls with seven fours and a six before he was bowled by Nikhil Chaudhary, who removed Andre Russell for a duck in the same over. Munro went on with Matthew Tromp, adding 43 for the third wicket before he was caught by Mitchell Owen off Rachin Ravindra for 40 off 29 balls, including four sixes. Tromp made 39 off 21 balls with three sixes before he was caught by Lockie Ferguson off Ben Dwarshuis, and Sunil Narine fell without scoring to leave LAKR at 109 for 4.
Rovman Powell, Jason Holder and Jahmar Hamilton were unable to build partnerships in the middle overs as Dwarshuis finished with 3 for 31 and Saurabh Netravalkar took 1 for 23. Mitchell Owen struck twice at the death to remove Saif Badar and Ali Khan, and LAKR were bowled out for 164 with two balls unused, Shadley van Schalkwyk unbeaten on 3.
Pienaar’s blitz takes Freedom to the brink
Washington Freedom’s chase of 165 was rocked immediately by Sunil Narine, who removed Mitchell Owen, Steven Smith and Rachin Ravindra inside the powerplay to finish with 3 for 13 from his four overs. Andries Gous and Nikhil Chaudhary then added 66 for the fourth wicket to steady the innings, before both fell to Jason Holder in successive overs — Gous for 40 off 35 balls and Chaudhary for 25 off 24 — with Holder also removing Ben Dwarshuis to finish with 3 for 31.
Obus Pienaar then played the innings of the match, striking three fours and five sixes in a rapid 53 off 24 balls to keep Freedom in touch with the target. Shadley van Schalkwyk struck twice in the last over, bowling Pienaar and removing Ian Holland for a duck, to swing the contest back LAKR’s way. Freedom needed 14 off the final over, but Lahiru Milantha was run out off the last ball attempting a second, leaving Washington Freedom on 163 for 9 — one run short of the target.
LA Knight Riders — MLC 2026 Champions
LA Knight Riders’ triumph is built on a total defended by contributions with both bat and ball, with Fletcher, Munro and Tromp laying the platform and Dwarshuis, Narine, Holder and van Schalkwyk sharing the wickets when Freedom threatened to chase it down.
For Washington Freedom, Obus Pienaar’s innings kept the chase alive deep into the final over, and Andries Gous’ contribution capped a tournament in which he finished as the leading run-scorer. A margin of one run in a final that went to the last ball captures a season that has produced high scores, match-winning individual performances and now a title decided in the closest possible fashion. LA Knight Riders are worthy champions.
Brief scores: LA Knight Riders 164 in 19.4 overs (Andre Fletcher 47, Colin Munro 40, Matthew Tromp 39; Ben Dwarshuis 3/31, Rachin Ravindra 2/23, Mitchell Owen 2/14) beat Washington Freedom 163/9 in 20 overs (Obus Pienaar 53, Andries Gous 40, Nikhil Chaudhary 25; Sunil Narine 3/13, Jason Holder 3/31, Shadley van Schalkwyk 2/50) by 1 run.
