Washington Freedom crush MI New York to reach MLC 2024 playoffs

DALLAS: Travis Head and Andries Gous scored impressive half-centuries, setting the stage for a dominant bowling display that led the Washington Freedom to a commanding 98-run triumph over MI New York to secure their spot in the playoffs of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 on Tuesday.

MI New York invited Washington Freedom to bat first at Grand Prairie Stadium and gained an early advantage with the wicket of Steve Smith (8) with 32 runs on the board.

However, Head and Gous helped Washington Freedom recover with a partnership of 73 runs for the third wicket, propelling the total to 105 in 12th over.

Romario Shepherd provided the breakthrough, sending the dangerous Head back to the pavilion. The Australian batter scored 54 runs from 33 balls with nine boundaries and two sixes.

Gous continued to play an anchor role from the other end while Rachin Ravindra played a blistering 31-run cameo off only 14 balls before falling in the last over.

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Meanwhile, Gous also fell on the last ball of the innings after scoring 59 runs from 48 balls, laced with three boundaries and four sixes.

MI New York’s Rashid Khan and Kieron Pollard claimed two wickets each while Shepherd bagged one wicket.

Chasing a massive 183, MI New York batters failed to put up a fight as they lost six wickets in 6.4 overs with meagre 25 runs on the board.

Shepherd (25) and Trent Boult (16), the only two batters who reached double-figures, knitted a 33-run stand for the seventh wicket but could not pose much threat as Washington Freedom wrapped up the innings at 88 in 13.3 overs.

Jasdeep Singh led the bowling attack with a figures of 3-14, while Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Maxwell picked two wickets each.

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