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The Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season continued to deliver high-octane action as Match 7 saw Texas Super Kings (TSK) take on the Seattle Orcas at the Oakland Coliseum. Riding high on two consecutive victories, TSK entered the contest brimming with confidence, while the winless Orcas were desperate to shake things up and register their first win of the season.

TSK made three strategic changes, bolstering their middle order with the explosive Marcus Stoinis, aiming to add firepower to their batting lineup. Seattle, on the other hand, handed a debut to Sujit Nayak, replacing Cameron Gannon, in a bid to inject fresh energy. After winning the toss, Seattle opted to bowl first on a slightly bowler-friendly track. The Oakland Coliseum pitch, now in use for five consecutive days, showed signs of wear and tear, offering assistance to bowlers with uneven bounce and slower pace.

TSK’s innings got off to a rocky start, managing only 30 runs in the powerplay while losing two crucial wickets. The worn pitch made stroke-making difficult, and Seattle’s bowlers capitalized early. However, young gun Saiteja, alongside the dependable Daryl Mitchell, steadied the ship with a gritty partnership. The game-changer came when Marcus Stoinis walked in and unleashed a blistering 28 runs off just 12 balls, propelling TSK to a competitive 153/7 in their 20 overs.

Seattle’s Harmeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers, delivering an economical spell and claiming two wickets. His disciplined bowling, coupled with some outstanding fielding by the Orcas, kept TSK’s scoring in check for most of the innings.

Seattle’s Chase: A Collapse for the Ages

Chasing a modest 154—lower than the average first-innings scores at this venue—Seattle appeared to have the batting depth to get the job done. However, TSK’s bowlers had other plans. Led by the fiery pace duo of Zia-ul-Haq and Nadre Burger (a former Orcas player who switched to TSK this season), TSK tore through Seattle’s top order, reducing them to a staggering five wickets down in the powerplay.

The onslaught didn’t stop there. Spin sensation Noor Ahmad joined the party, bamboozling the Orcas’ middle order with his guile. Seattle’s batting crumbled under pressure, and at one point, it seemed they might not even cross 50 runs. The misery ended in the 13.5th over when the final wicket fell, with Seattle bowled out for a paltry 60—the second-lowest total in MLC history.

Standout Performances

Marcus Stoinis (TSK): His quickfire 28 off 12 balls was the difference-maker in TSK’s innings, pushing them to a defendable total.

Zia-ul-Haq and Nadre Burger (TSK): The pace duo’s relentless attack in the powerplay set the tone for Seattle’s collapse.

Noor Ahmad (TSK): The young spinner’s crafty spell ensured there was no way back for the Orcas.

Harmeet Singh (Seattle): Despite the loss, his economical bowling and two wickets were a bright spot for the Orcas.

This Seattle Orcas side looked clueless against TSK’s disciplined bowling attack. The batting unit failed to adapt to the challenging conditions, and their lack of intent was evident. With talented players like Shayan Jahangir, Ali Sheikh, and Aryan Desai warming the bench, the Orcas might need to inject fresh blood to turn their campaign around. A strategic overhaul could provide the much-needed boost to revive their season.

For TSK, this was a statement win. Their ability to adapt to a tricky pitch, stabilize after an early collapse, and then dismantle the opposition with ruthless bowling showcased their depth and versatility. With Stoinis firing and their bowling unit in top form, TSK is emerging as a serious contender in MLC 2025.

Today, though, the Oakland Coliseum belonged to the Texas Super Kings—a team that played like champions and left the Seattle Orcas searching for answers.

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