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The LAKR vs WF fantasy team prediction for MLC 2026 Match 16 at Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, California on Thursday July 2 2026. Match starts at 1:30 AM local time which is 7:00 AM IST.
Before anything else — read the weather report first tonight. There is a 70 percent chance of rain in Pomona. That is the single most important number in this blog. If rain interrupts early or washes the match out completely your fantasy team and this preview become irrelevant. Check the Pomona weather in the hours before the match before making any fantasy decisions.
Los Angeles Knight Riders have lost three in a row. They were bowled out for 103 chasing 144 against MI New York in Match 12. They scored 134 for 8 chasing 154 against Seattle in Match 14. Three losses in a row is the worst run LAKR have had in any MLC season.
Washington Freedom have also been struggling. They won Match 13 against Texas Super Kings by 1 wicket off the last ball — TSK posted 185 and WF got 187 for 9 in 20 overs through a last-ball six from Nikhil Chaudhary. But in Match 15 they lost to San Francisco Unicorns — WF posted 190 for 4 and SFU chased it in 15.1 overs making 193 for 2. A comfortable win for SFU.
WF have now played 5 matches. Won 2. Lost 3. They are in worse shape than the points suggest.
Both teams are on 4 points. Both teams need a win tonight to stay in playoff contention. And there is a 70 percent chance of rain.
Match Details
Match: LAKR vs WF, 16th T20, MLC 2026
Date: Thursday July 2 2026 local / Thursday July 2 IST morning
Time: 1:30 AM PDT / 7:00 AM IST
Venue: Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium, Pomona, California
LAKR Captain: Jason Holder
WF Captain: Steve Smith
Live TV India: Star Sports 2
Live Streaming India: JioHotstar
A New Venue
The Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona is the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex. This is LAKR’s home ground for MLC 2026 and the first time Los Angeles hosts top-level cricket. Neither team has played here before. No scores from this ground to look at. Tonight is the first match.
Team Form Last 5
LAKR last 5: L L W W W
Three losses in a row. Most recent loss was Match 14 against Seattle — SO 154 for 7 vs LAKR 134 for 8. Before that lost Match 12 to MINY — MINY 144 for 6 vs LAKR 103 all out. Before that beat SO in Match 6 by 81 runs, chased SFU in Match 2 in 13.4 overs and beat SFU in MLC 2025 Match 30.
WF last 5: L W L W L
Three losses from five. Most recent was Match 15 against SFU — WF 190 for 4 vs SFU 193 for 2 in 15.1 overs. SFU chased 191 in 15.1 overs. Before that WF beat TSK in Match 13 off the last ball. Before that lost to SO by 88 runs in Match 9. Beat MINY in Match 5 posting 245. Lost Match 3 to SO.
Head to Head LAKR vs WF
Washington Freedom lead 4-0 from all 4 MLC meetings. LAKR have never beaten WF.
WF won, 17th T20 MLC 2025, LAKR 213 for 4 vs WF 214 for 5 in 20 overs.
WF won, 8th T20 MLC 2025, WF 208 for 5 vs LAKR 95 all out in 16.3 overs.
WF won, 11th T20 MLC 2024, WF 130 for 2 in 16 overs vs LAKR 129 all out in 18.4 overs.
WF won, 9th T20 MLC 2023, WF 177 for 4 in 18.1 overs vs LAKR 175 for 7 in 20 overs.
4-0. WF have won every time. But both teams are in poor form right now and this is a new ground with no history. LAKR have home advantage for the first time.
Points Table MLC 2026
LAKR: P4 W2 L2 NRR plus 0.360, 4 Points
WF: P5 W2 L3 NRR minus 1.422, 4 Points
Both on 4 points. WF’s NRR of minus 1.422 is very poor because of the heavy loss to Seattle. LAKR’s NRR of plus 0.360 is better. A win tonight for either side moves them to 6 points. A loss leaves them in danger of missing the playoffs.
Team Comparison Last 10 Matches
LAKR in last 10:
Win percentage: 30 percent
Average Score: 167
Highest Score: 243
Lowest Score: 103
WF in last 10:
Win percentage: 50 percent
Average Score: 156
Highest Score: 245
Lowest Score: 44
Washington Freedom win more often at 50 percent versus LAKR’s 30 percent. LAKR average more per innings at 167 versus WF’s 156. But look at the lowest scores. LAKR made 103 in their last collapse. WF made 44 in a previous MLC season. Neither team is consistent when things go wrong.
Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium Pomona Pitch Report
The Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium at Pomona is a purpose-built cricket ground at the Los Angeles Fairplex. This is its first MLC match so there are no previous scores to look at from this ground.
Southern California pitches in summer tend to be flat and true. The ball comes on to the bat. Boundaries are free. In a normal match here you would expect both teams to score somewhere in the 170 to 190 range based on how similar Californian surfaces have played at Oakland this season.
But tonight is not a normal night. There is 70 percent rain chance and 63 percent humidity. If rain comes early the surface gets wet, the outfield slows down and pace bowlers get movement. Everything changes.
Toss verdict: Bat first. A target on the board gives you something to defend if rain hits the second innings and DLS comes into play.
Par score: On a dry surface 175 or above puts real pressure on the chasing team. In a rain-reduced game of 10 overs anything above 90 is competitive.
Weather Report Pomona July 1
Temperature: 30 degrees Celsius
Conditions: Cloudy
Humidity: 63 percent
Rain chance: 70 percent
70 percent rain chance in Pomona tonight. The match is very likely to be affected. A DLS calculation is a real possibility. If rain falls before 5 overs are completed in either innings that innings does not count and may need to be replayed or abandoned. Watch the Pomona weather closely in the hours before the 1:30 AM local start.
Fantasy advice: In a rain-affected match pick power hitters at the top of the order. If the match is reduced to 10 overs the team that scores fast in the powerplay wins. Sunil Narine and Glenn Maxwell are the two most important picks in a rain-affected scenario.
LAKR Playing XI
Players confirmed playing in recent LAKR matches this season from Crex squad list:
Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (C), Fabian Allen, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Matthew Tromp, Ali Khan, Carmi le Roux, Unmukt Chand.
Note: Alex Hales is in the squad but has not featured consistently in recent matches. Lloyd Pope is in the squad but has not played any match this season. Do not pick Lloyd Pope in fantasy. Check the official toss announcement for the confirmed XI.
WF Playing XI
Players confirmed playing in recent WF matches this season:
Steve Smith (C), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Andries Gous (WK), Nikhil Chaudhary, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Dwarshuis, Saurabh Netravalkar, Jack Edwards, Ian Holland.
Note: Rachin Ravindra is in the WF squad but has played zero matches this season. He may have joined the squad by now. Check the official toss announcement. If he plays tonight he is an immediate top pick.
Players to Watch
Sunil Narine — Los Angeles Knight Riders
LAKR have lost three in a row. They need Narine to win this match almost by himself. He opens the batting and bowls mystery spin. On a cloudy night with 63 percent humidity his spin will grip and his batting in the powerplay sets LAKR’s entire innings. He is the captain pick and the most important player in this match.
Andre Russell — Los Angeles Knight Riders
Russell bats in the death overs and hits the ball a very long way. In a rain-reduced match where fewer overs are available the death-overs batter becomes even more valuable. If this match goes the full 20 overs and Russell gets 15 balls in overs 17 to 20 the match could be decided in that spell alone.
Glenn Maxwell — Washington Freedom
Maxwell is the most dangerous batter in this match. He can score 60 off 25 balls on any surface against any bowling. In a short rain-affected game with 10 or 12 overs a side Maxwell batting at his best wins WF the match single-handedly. He is the vice captain pick.
Steve Smith — Washington Freedom
Smith anchors the WF innings. He does not hit as many sixes as Maxwell but he scores at a strike rate of 135 to 145 consistently. In a full 20-over game Smith and Maxwell batting together give WF their best partnership. Smith sets the base and Maxwell attacks.
Jason Holder — Los Angeles Knight Riders
Holder captains LAKR and has not won in three matches. At their home ground in Pomona he needs a strong all-round performance. He bowls right-arm fast medium and bats in the middle order. In cloudy humid conditions his pace bowling could be effective with the new ball against WF’s top order.
Marco Jansen — Washington Freedom
Tall left-arm fast medium bowling from South Africa. His height gives him steep bounce even on flat pitches. In humid conditions the ball tends to move more for left-arm seamers because of the angle. Against LAKR’s right-handed lineup his angle from around the wicket is awkward.
Rain Warning for Fantasy Players
With 70 percent rain chance tonight please note the following before picking your fantasy team.
If the match is reduced to 10 overs or fewer pick top-order power hitters above all else. The first 6 overs become the entire match. Sunil Narine, Glenn Maxwell, Rovman Powell and Mitchell Owen score the fastest in the powerplay from these two squads.
If the match is abandoned before 5 overs are completed there is no result and all fantasy points are typically cancelled on most platforms. Check your fantasy app’s rain rules before the match.
Bowlers become lower priority in a very short match. Wicket-taking in 4 or 5 overs is possible but much harder to predict than batting points in the powerplay.
Match Prediction
WF are narrow favourites on head to head alone. They lead 4-0. Their squad with Maxwell, Smith, Ferguson and Jansen is strong. But they have now lost 3 of 5 MLC 2026 matches and LAKR are at their home ground for the first time.
The weather is the biggest factor tonight. A full 20-over match gives LAKR a genuine chance if Narine and Russell fire. A rain-reduced 10-over match is anyone’s game.
Our prediction: If the full match is played WF to win by 15 to 20 runs based on their head to head advantage and squad depth. If the match is rain-reduced to 10 overs too uncertain to call.
Also Read- Best Fantasy Cricket Apps for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Best Fantasy XI LAKR vs WF MLC 2026
Players selected only from those confirmed in recent match appearances.
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine (C) | LAKR | All-Rounder |
| Colin Munro | LAKR | Batter |
| Rovman Powell | LAKR | Batter |
| Andre Russell (VC) | LAKR | All-Rounder |
| Glenn Maxwell | WF | All-Rounder |
| Steve Smith | WF | Batter |
| Mitchell Owen | WF | All-Rounder |
| Jason Holder | LAKR | All-Rounder |
| Marco Jansen | WF | Bowler |
| Lockie Ferguson | WF | Bowler |
| Ali Khan | LAKR | Bowler |
Note: If Rachin Ravindra is confirmed playing for WF at toss time replace Mitchell Owen with Ravindra immediately.
Captain: Sunil Narine
He opens the batting and bowls mystery spin. LAKR need him tonight more than any other match this season. Three losses in a row and a home ground debut against a team that has beaten them four times. In humid cloudy conditions his spin will turn and dip. His batting in the powerplay is how LAKR get off to a fast start. Two ways to win points from one player.
Vice Captain: Andre Russell
In a rain-affected short match the death-overs batter becomes the most valuable player. Russell hitting sixes in overs 7 to 10 of a 10-over game can change the result completely. He also bowls right-arm pace and takes wickets. Two contributions from one player.
Differential Pick: Mitchell Owen
WF’s left-handed opening batter from New Zealand. He hits the ball hard at the top of the order and in a short rain-affected match his powerplay hitting is crucial. Most fantasy players will pick Maxwell and Smith from WF’s batting and stop there. Owen at lower ownership with genuine powerplay hitting ability is tonight’s best differential.
FANTASY
11
Q: What time does LAKR vs WF MLC 2026 start in India?
A: The LAKR vs WF match starts at 7:00 AM IST on Thursday July 2 2026. The local start time in Pomona is 1:30 AM PDT on Thursday July 2 2026.
Q: Will rain affect LAKR vs WF MLC 2026?
A: Yes. There is a 70 percent chance of rain in Pomona tonight. This is a very high rain risk. The match is likely to be interrupted or reduced in overs. Both captains and all fantasy players should monitor the Pomona weather forecast closely before the match starts.
Q: What is the head to head record between LAKR and WF in MLC?
A: Washington Freedom lead 4-0 from all 4 MLC meetings. LAKR have never beaten WF in MLC history.
Q: What is the MLC 2026 points table for LAKR and WF?
A: LAKR have 4 points from 4 matches with 2 wins and 2 losses, NRR plus 0.360. WF have 4 points from 5 matches with 2 wins and 3 losses, NRR minus 1.422.
Q: What is LAKR’s recent form going into this match?
A: LAKR have lost three in a row. They were bowled out for 103 against MINY in Match 12 and scored 134 for 8 against Seattle in Match 14. Their batting middle order has collapsed in two consecutive matches.
Q: What is WF’s recent form going into this match?
A: WF lost their most recent match in Match 15 to SFU — WF posted 190 for 4 and SFU chased it in 15.1 overs. They have now won 2 and lost 3 of their 5 MLC 2026 matches.
Q: Is Rachin Ravindra playing for Washington Freedom tonight?
A: Rachin Ravindra has played zero matches for WF in MLC 2026 so far. Check the official playing XI at toss time. If he plays he becomes an immediate top fantasy pick.
Q: Who is the best captain pick for LAKR vs WF fantasy team tonight?
A: Sunil Narine. He opens the batting and bowls mystery spin. In a rain-affected match with fewer overs the top-order batter who also bowls becomes the most valuable player. Narine is that player for LAKR.
Q: Where can I watch LAKR vs WF MLC 2026 live in India?
A: Star Sports 2 on TV and JioHotstar for live streaming.