The Major League Cricket match between Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings was abandoned due to rain and poor drainage at Church Street Park in Morrisville, with both sides sharing one point each. Batting first, Texas Super Kings posted a mammoth 203/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of Faf du Plessis’ scintillating knock of 100 off 58 balls. In response, Travis Head (32* off 12) and Steven Smith (26* off 13) added 62 runs in 4 overs when the rain intervened, causing the match to be called off.
Match Summary:
- Toss: Steven Smith (WF) won the toss and opted to field.
Texas Super Kings Innings: 203/5 in 20 overs
- Faf du Plessis: 100 (58)
- Devon Conway: 39 (26)
- Key Bowler: Saurabh Netravalkar (2/33)
Washington Freedom Innings: 62/0 in 4 overs 
- Travis Head: 32* (12)
- Steven Smith: 26* (13)
- Key Bowler: Zia-ul-Haq (0/19 in 2 overs)
Key Moments:
Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis Lay a Solid Foundation:
After being invited to bat first, Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis spearheaded the innings for Texas Super Kings, taking their time before shifting gears. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking at a decent pace and added 109 runs for the first wicket, laying a solid foundation for the later batters.
Saurabh Netravalkar Provides the Much-Needed Breakthrough:
The TSK openers were in good touch, making Washington Freedom bowlers toil hard for wickets in the first half of the innings. However, Saurabh Netravalkar returned to the attack in the 11th over and provided the much-needed breakthrough. The left-arm pacer trapped Conway for 39 runs, breaking the 109-run opening stand.
Faf’s Fabulous Knock:
TSK skipper, Faf du Plessis, looked in a different mood today as he played with authority from the start, smashing Washington bowlers all around the park. He hit 12 fours and 5 sixes to notch up his century before falling prey to Netravalkar. The scintillating knock from the Protea batter helped the Men in Yellow cross the 200-run mark.
Rain Spoils Washington Freedom’s Party:
In pursuit of 203 runs, Travis Head (32* off 12) and Steven Smith (26* off 13) came out all guns blazing, providing Washington Freedom with a rollicking start. The dynamic duo added 62 runs in just 4 overs when a drizzle started, which then turned into heavy rain. Due to poor drainage at the venue, no further play was possible. The match was called off, and both sides shared one point each.
Implications and Future Prospects:
Bowling is an area of concern for both teams as their bowlers failed to extract wickets with the new ball and curb the scoring rate. Washington Freedom batters didn’t get enough playing time as both of their games were interrupted by rain. However, Travis Head, who failed to make an impact in the first game, looked in good touch.
Upcoming Fixtures:
San Francisco Unicorns vs Texas Super Kings: July 10 (local time)
Seattle Orcas vs Washington Freedom: July 11 (local time)
Conclusion:
Rain played spoilsport in this game, resulting in both sides earning one point each. Washington Freedom remains undefeated so far and has moved to the top of the points table with 3 points from two games. Had 5 overs been completed, Washington Freedom would have easily won by the DLS method. On the other hand, Texas Super Kings are yet to secure their first win and are languishing at number five in the points table.
