Washington Freedom thumped San Francisco Unicorns by seven wickets in the MLC qualifier, advancing to the final. Batting first, Hassan Khan’s (57 off 36) valiant knock helped Unicorns post a respectable 145 runs. In response, Freedom surpassed the score with 27 balls to spare, thanks to Travis Head’s (77* off 44) scintillating knock.
Match Summary
- Toss: Steven Smith (WF) won the toss and opted to field.
- San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 145/10 in 19 overs
- Hassan Khan: 57 (36)
- Corey Anderson: 26 (19)
- Key Bowler: Rachin Ravindra (4/12) in 2.4 overs
- Washington Freedom Innings: 167/1 in 18.3 overs
- Travis Head: 77* (44)
- Glenn Maxwell: 54* (23)
- Key Bowler: Hassan Khan (2/32)
Key Moments
Jansen & Netravalkar’s New-Ball Brilliance
Opting to bowl first yielded the desired results for Steve Smith and his team as they exerted pressure on their counterparts from the outset. Smith deployed Marco Jansen (3/46) and Saurabh Netravalkar (2/23) with the new ball, and the pair met expectations. Both left-arm pacers exploited the conditions and removed Finn Allen (6 off 4), Jake Fraser-McGurk (11 off 11), and Josh Inglis (8 off 7) during the powerplay, putting the Unicorns in deep trouble. 
Hassan Khan’s Valiant Knock
With his side in turmoil, the 25-year-old batter came out to bat at number six and started the rescue mission. The right-hander was the lone warrior for his side, notching up his fifty on the occasion. He smashed 56 runs, including six sixes, and helped his side post a respectable total.
Rachin Ravindra’s Magic
The left-arm spinner wreaked havoc with the ball for Washington, helping his side skittle the Unicorns for 145 runs in 19 overs. Rachin bagged four wickets for just 11 runs, including a maiden over in just 2.4 overs, topping the wicket chart.
Travis Head’s Carnage
The Aussie batter proved too hot to handle for the Unicorns’ bowlers, going berserk from the word go. Head mustered an unbeaten 77 runs off just 44 balls, including ten fours and three sixes. His scintillating knock helped Washington cross the line with 27 balls to spare.
Maxwell Mania
The 35-year-old player regained momentum in the tournament at the right time and produced a scintillating knock. Maxwell entered the fray at number five and tonked the Unicorns’ bowlers all around the park. He notched up his fifty and went unbeaten on 53 runs, including four fours and five sixes.
Implications and Future Prospects
Unicorns’ batters faltered in this contest and paid the price for it. They would have been skittled for under 100 runs if it weren’t for Hassan Khan. However, Corey Anderson and his team have another opportunity to bounce back and confirm their berth in the summit clash. The top and middle-order batters need to impact the next match significantly. The bowling seemed mediocre for the Unicorns in this match, and they need to pull up their socks for the upcoming crucial game.
Conversely, Freedom’s bowlers were right on the money throughout the match and will look to continue the same in the grand finale of this MLC. Smith looked in sublime form with the bat during the league phase but faltered in this contest. The Washington skipper will aim to contribute one final time in this MLC and help his side lift the silverware.
Upcoming Fixture
- Challenger: San Francisco Unicorns vs Texas Super Kings, July 26 (local time)
Conclusion
Washington Freedom’s impressive performance secured their spot in the grand finale of this MLC. The Washington-based franchise is just one win away from lifting the silverware and will aim to continue their dominance in the summit clash.
On the other hand, while the Unicorns may have lost this match, they still have one chance to secure their place in the grand finale. They will aim to stage a comeback in the Challenger and emerge victorious.
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