Washington Freedom drubbed Texas Super Kings by 42 runs, extending their winning streak to five matches in the ongoing MLC. Batting first, Washington posted 206 runs in 20 overs, thanks to scintillating knocks from Steven Smith (57 off 40) and Travis Head (53 off 22). In response, Faf du Plessis (55 off 32) provided a rollicking start to Super Kings but they couldn’t maintain the momentum and were bundled out for 164 runs in 19.5 overs.
Match Summary
- Toss: Faf du Plessis (TSK) won the toss and opted to field.
- Washington Freedom Innings: 206/5 in 20 overs
- Steven Smith: 57 (40)
- Travis: 53 (22)
- Key Bowler: Noor Ahmad (3/38)
- Texas Super Kings Innings:
- Faf du Plessis: 55 (32)
- Calvin Savage: 35 (23)
- Key Bowler: Rachin Ravindra (4/16) in 3.5 overs
Key Moments
Head’s Solid Start
The Southpaw came out all guns blazing from the outset and provided a rollicking start for Washington. He tonked 53 runs off just 22 balls, smashing eight fours and two sixes. He reached the 50-run milestone off just 20 balls. 
Noor’s Magic
The left-arm spinner debuted for TSK and made an immediate impact. Noor was introduced in the fifth over of the innings and he trapped the on-song batter, Travis Head on the third ball of his spell, drawing the first blood. He continued his impressive bowling and removed Rachin Ravindra (1 off 2) and Glenn Maxwell (34 off 23) to end his spell with 3/38.
Steve Smith’s Well-Compiled Knock
The Aussie batter took his time to settle at the crease before attacking the loose deliveries. He switched gears towards the end of the innings and notched up his fifty in the process. The right-hander finished with 57 runs, including two fours and three sixes.
Faf’s Fastest Fifty
The Protea batter went honkers and bonkers from the word go and took full advantage of field restrictions. He pummeled Washington bowlers all around the park and notched up his fifty off just 19 balls, the fastest fifty in this MLC. However, he struggled to time the ball after notching up his fifty and departed for 55 runs off 32 balls.
Jasdeep Singh’s Impressive Bowling
The right-arm pacer was awarded Player of the Match for his impressive bowling in the last game and continued his excellent form in this one. Despite Washington posting over 200 runs, they were on the back foot until Jasdeep turned the tide. He took three crucial wickets—Aaron Hardie, Faf du Plessis, and Marcus Stoinis—shaping the game in Washington’s favor. The 31-year-old was awarded Player of the Match for his solid bowling.
Implications and Future Prospects
Super Kings failed to utilize the momentum provided by skipper Faf du Plessis as their middle-order batters choked and they had to bear the brunt of it. Marcus Stoinis, Milind Kumar, and Aaron Hardie need to contribute with the bat in the last league game. Zia-ul-Haq failed to extract wickets with the new ball and that allowed Head and Smith to lay a solid foundation. Meanwhile, debutant for TSK, Noor Ahmad impressed with his bowling and will look to continue it in the final league game.
On the flip side, Washington Freedom are getting better and better with every match and are unbeaten in this MLC so far. Their new-ball bowlers were tested in this contest but Smit and Co. staged a solid comeback in the latter half of the innings. Overall, they would be happy with their performance and would like to carry forward the momentum in the business end of the tournament as well.
Upcoming Fixtures
- San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom: July 22 (local time)
- Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas: July 23 (local time)
Conclusion
Washington Freedom sit firmly at the top of the points table with 11 points from 6 games. This win secured their place in the top two, and they aim to finish the league stage unbeaten.
Conversely, Super Kings are third on the points table with 6 points from as many games. A win in their final league game will secure their place in the playoffs. The Men in Yellow will look to overcome their challenges and finish in the top four.
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