Shanaka's four wickets seal victory for Seattle Orcas

Shanaka's four wickets seal victory for Seattle Orcas

In a gripping match against the Texas Super Kings, Seattle Orcas secured a narrow victory by nine runs, winning 121 for 9 compared to Texas's 112 for 9. This low-scoring affair, held on July 5, 2026, saw Dasun Shanaka take four wickets in four balls during the final over, which proved pivotal for the Orcas.

Chasing a modest target of 122, the Texas Super Kings found themselves in a good position at 107 for 5, with well-set batsmen Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Ranjane at the crease. However, Shanaka's dramatic intervention changed the course of the game. After Ranjane struck a boundary early in the last over, Shanaka first dismissed Ferreira with a precise slower delivery, then quickly accounted for Calvin Savage who could only manage a catch to long-on.

Facing the hat-trick ball, Adam Milne attempted a big shot but edged the ball behind for a catch. Finally, Shanaka concluded the over with another wicket, trapping Amshi de Silva to hand the Orcas the win.

Before Shanaka's heroics, Ottneil Baartman had significantly contributed to the victory, claiming 3 wickets for just 9 runs, which included the critical early dismissals of TSK’s openers Faf du Plessis and Saiteja Mukkamalla. Baartman's performance kept the Texas innings under pressure as they struggled to build momentum, slumping from 50 for 4 to 70 for 7.

The Orcas had struggled with the bat, with their highest scorer, Cameron Gannon, contributing only 20 runs at number nine. Seattle's innings was characterized by early wickets, as they were reduced to 15 for 3. However, a late flurry in the final over, where Harmeet Singh returned to the crease and hit vital boundaries with Jasdeep Singh, managed to push the total to 121.

This victory affirmed Seattle's position in the ongoing Major League Cricket, showcasing the team's resilience and capability of defending low totals.