Washington Freedom drubbed Los Angeles Knight Riders by 8 wickets in the ongoing MLC, extending their winning streak to three matches. Batting first, Knight Riders were skittled for a paltry 129 runs in 18.4 overs, courtesy of Saurabh Netravalkar’s (4/35) brilliant bowling. In response, a solid batting display from Travis Head (54 off 34) and Steve Smith (42* off 36) has helped Washington cross the line with 24 balls to spare.
Match Summary
- Toss: Steve Smith (WF) won the toss and opted to bowl first.
- Los Angeles Knight Riders Innings: 129/10 in 18.4 overs
- Saif Badar: 35 (28)
- Andre Russell: 20 (12)
- Key Bowler: Saurabh Netravalkar (4/35) in 3.4 overs.
- Washington Freedom Innings: 130/2 in 16 overs
- Travis Head: 54 (32)
- Steve Smith: 42* (36)
- Key Bowler: Spencer Johnson (1/33)
Key Moments
Netravalkar’s Double Blow
The left-arm pacer has the knack of picking wickets with the new ball and has done it again for his side. He shared the new ball from the other end and made an immediate impact. The pacer trapped Knight Riders’ skipper Sunil Narine for a duck on the first ball of his spell, drawing first blood. He struck again on the final ball of his opening over, removing Unmukt Chand for just one run. A couple of wickets straightaway in his opening over put Washington on the front foot from the outset.
Maxwell Topples the middle-order
The Aussie all-rounder proved too hot to handle for the Knight Riders’ middle-order batters. Maxwell took three crucial wickets: Shakib Al Hasan (0 off 2), Nitish Kumar (11 off 14), and Andre Russell (20 off 12), putting the Knight Riders in deep waters. The off-spinner finished his spell with impressive figures of 3/15. 
Saif Badar’s Valuable Knock
The right-hander top-scored for Knight Riders, scoring 35 runs off 28 balls, including 3 sixes and a four. His valuable contribution with the bat propelled the Los Angeles-based franchise to post a respectable total on the board.
Head’s Well-Compiled Knock
The Aussie batter departed for a silver duck in their previous match, but he bounced back strongly in this contest. The left-hander smashed 54 runs off 32 balls, including 2 fours and 6 sixes, setting the tone for the chase.
Steve Smith Seals the Deal for Washington
The right-hander played his natural game and guided his side to victory with 24 balls to spare. Smith remained unbeaten on 42 runs from 36 balls, smashing 2 fours and sixes each. He has been dismissed only once in this MLC, making his batting form a significant positive for Washington Freedom.
Implications and Future Prospects
Sunil Narine (13 runs in 4 innings) has struggled as an opener in this MLC and has also failed to make a significant impact with the ball, managing only 2 wickets in 4 innings so far. The Knight Riders skipper must bring his A-game in the upcoming matches to help his side secure wins. Shakib Al Hasan (60 runs & 1 wicket in 4 innings), David Miller (73 runs in 4 innings), and Andre Russell (84 runs & 0 wickets in 4 innings) are other key players who have also faced challenges in this tournament.
In contrast, in this tournament, Washington Freedom has been impressive so far, ticking all the boxes.
Upcoming Fixtures
- MI New York vs Washington Freedom: July 16 (local time)
- Seattle Orcas vs Los Angeles Knight Riders: July 17 (local time)
Conclusion
Washington Freedom is unbeaten in this tournament, sitting at the top of the points table, with seven points from four games. They will aim to carry the momentum in the remaining matches and seal their spot in the top two.
Meanwhile, Knight Riders are fifth on the points table with three points from five games. The Los Angeles-based franchise will need a strong comeback in their remaining two league stage matches to advance to the playoffs comfortably.
