3 Reasons Why LAKR Lost to WSF in the 17th Match of MLC 2025

A blazing fireworks display from the Spiceman turned into a last-ball heartbreaker for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, after putting up a massive 213/4 to guide the Knight Riders to a high-scoring night. Lightning in a bottle came in the form of an Andre Fletcher century—LA still lost. Washington Freedom chased 214 like a late-night Uber, winning the game on the final ball. For a team that looked in total control at half, the Los Angeles Knight Riders will have to learn from the moments that turned into a significant missed opportunity.

Bowling Unit Crumbled Under Pressure

To start with, let’s talk bowling—or the lack of it. When you put 213 on the board, you never expect to lose. But LA’s bowlers, except for Shadley van Schalkwyk and Tanveer Sangha, looked like they were delivering for a charity bowling night. Jason Holder, who is usually Mr Reliant, went for 50 runs in four, and Andre Russell, the enforcer, went for another 48.

To make matters worse, there were 12 wides and two no-balls, essentially giving Washington two free overs. Death bowling: nil. Yorkers: nil. Plan: Plan, what plan? It was like six-hitting madness had obliterated it.

Mitchell Owen’s Powerplay Destruction

And then came the Owen Storm. Mitchell Owen batted for 16 balls. He hit 43 runs like a man doing demolition work and mistakenly thought he was playing cricket. Owen’s blistering innings did two things. First, it took the pressure of a 200+ chase off immediately. Second, it swung the momentum so quickly, LA’s dugout was left looking like they’d all seen a ghost.

Sure, he hit runs, but it was when he hit them and how he hit them that was so staggering. In the powerplay, he hit four sixes and three fours, and all of a sudden, the rate went from “daunting” to “doable.” In a game with each ball counting all too much, Owen’s cameo was the punch to the gut that left LA winded for the remainder of the match.

Tactical Misfires and Sloppy Fielding

Let’s not lose sight of some of the minor cracks in the foundations that only became visible under duress. Between absolutely brilliant batting, LA were tactically wayward. Fletcher was ‘retired out’ for 190 – I can only assume something tactical, but why would you take off your set batter who was scoring at 173, just as they were starting the death overs? It felt like trying to fix a moving engine mid-race.

On top of this was horrendous fielding – there were at least two missed run-outs and a general malaise of urgency that just wasn’t there. Washington was five wickets down by the 14th over, but LA watched the game drift away while Phillips and Pienaar milled singles, or occasionally a boundary, as if it were a Sunday backyard cricket game.

When it was all said and done, LA Knight Riders lost a game that they had no right to lose. They batted like champions and bowled like tourists. Washington deservedly kept their nerve and took full advantage, and pulled off a heist, but a surgical heist. Now, the road to the playoffs has got a bit harder for LA, and it’s less the scoreline they will toss and turn over, but the scoreline plus the “what ifs.”