Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Washington Freedom Tips, Predictions and Bet Builder

Needing a win to build some momentum, Los Angeles Knight Riders face defending champions Washington Freedom in a crucial Major League Cricket clash at Grand Prairie Stadium on Friday.

The Knight Riders are running out of time to turn their campaign around as they enter the second half of the season down in fifth place with the worst net run-rate in the competition.

Jason Holder's side suffered their fourth loss in five on Tuesday when the Texas Super Kings defended a total of 196 easily to win by 52 runs.

Their only victory this year came against the hapless Seattle Orcas - the only winless team in the tournament - in stark contrast to their in-form opponents.

The Freedom have won four matches in a row to surge to surge up to third place and may only need one more to seal a place in the play-offs.

Washington chased down a formidable victory target of 221 to beat the Super Kings by seven wickets with two balls to spare in their latest outing.

And in Mitchell Owen, who took top billing with 89 runs off 52 balls and bowling figures of 3-33, the Freedom may have the best player in the tournament.

Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Washington Freedom Tips Summary

Market	Tip	Odds
Match Result	Washington Freedom	4/6
Best Bet	Highest Individual Score - Over 77.5	5/6
Bet Builder	Washington Freedom to win, Highest Individual Score - 77.5 & Mitchell Owen - Top Match Batter	10/1

Key Match Stats

• Washington Freedom have won their last four matches, including a 113-run demolition of LAKR

• Glenn Maxwell smashed 106 not out off 49 balls in the previous meeting, hitting 13 sixes

• LAKR were bowled out for 95 in that match, with their top three all dismissed for ducks

• Mitchell Owen has taken the Player of the Match award in the Freedom’s last two games

• LAKR have lost all three of their previous MLC matches against Washington

Los Angeles Knight Raiders vs Washington Freedom Prediction

Best Bet: Highest Individual Score - Over 77.5 Runs @ 5/6

The pitch at Grand Prairie Stadium looks like a belter and that notion has been validated by the higher average first innings scores in Dallas than at the previous venue in Oakland.

In nine matches at the Oakland Coliseum the teams batting first averaged 193.55 while in six subsequent matches in Dallas the average target has been 204.16.

The highest individual score has been 78 or more in four of those six games at Grand Prairie and it seems likely that another big innings will be possible when the Freedom’s in-form batting line-up face the most expensive bowling unit in the competition.

Glenn Maxwell hit a century the last time these two sides faced off, while Owen and Andries Gous made 89 and 80 respectively in the Freedom’s win over the Super Kings this week.

Simon Barlow explains:

With the likes of Maxwell, Owen, Rachin Ravindra and Gous in their stacked batting line-up, there is every chance one of them will get a big score on Friday.

Los Angeles Knight Raiders vs Washington Freedom Bet Builder Tip

• Washington Freedom to win

• Highest Individual Score - Over 77.5

• Mitchell Owen - Top Match Batter

  Pays: 10/1

LAKR's top order has misfired badly and their middle order looks low on confidence too.

Injuries to key players such as Anrich Nortje and Sherfane Rutherford mean they lack some of the skills required to compete with the best in MLC and that definitely describes the defending champions.

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Simon Barlow adds:

The Freedom's depth and form make them strong favourites. Back Owen, who has scored 171 across his last three innings, to shine again and Washington to take the points.

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Tactics, Form and Team News

Washington have a settled line up and are unlikely to make any changes from the side that won on Tuesday.

Expected Washington Freedom line-up: Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell (c), Glenn Phillips, Jack Edwards, Obus Pienaar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Matthew Forde, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar.

LAKR are still missing South African paceman Nortje and West Indies all-rounder Rutherford, weakening their bowling and middle-order batting.

Batter Andre Fletcher and pace bowler Spencer Johnson, two overseas players who were left out against Texas last time out, will be hoping for recalls.

Expected LA Knight Riders line-up: Andre Fletcher, Alex Hales, Unmukt Chand (wk), Nitish Kumar, Jason Holder (c), Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Corne Dry.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.