Freedom thump Super Kings to solidify top berth in MLC standings

DALLAS: Travis Head and Steve Smith’s half-centuries, followed by Rachin Ravindra’s four-fer steered Washington Freedom to a 42-run victory over Texas Super Kings in the 17th match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024.

Put into bat first, Washington Freedom posted a massive total of 206/5 on the board, courtesy of half-centuries by Head and Smith.

Left-handed opener Head gave the Freedom a flying start with a quickfire half-century.

He added 59 runs for the first wicket with Smith, who managed to face just six balls inside the batting powerplay.

Head returned to the dugout in the fifth over with a 22-ball 53, laced up with 10 boundaries including two sixes.

The Freedom, however, soon slipped to 79/3 in 6.5 overs as Andries Gous and Rachin Ravindra perished with modest contributions.

Smith then played an anchoring role by holding one end firm, allowing Glenn Maxwell to take charge.

The all-rounder took on the Super Kings’ bowlers with his quick 34-run cameo which came off 23 deliveries and featured one four and three sixes.

Following Maxwell’s dismissal, Smith got going and notched up a well-crafted half-century.

He oversaw Freedom’s innings until the penultimate over and returned as the top-scorer with his 40-ball 57, peppered with two fours and three sixes.

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Middle-order batter Obus Pienaar played a pivotal role in pushing the Freedom’s total past the 200-run barrier with his unbeaten cameo. He scored an unbeaten 33 off 21 with the help of three sixes.

Nood Ahmad was the star with the ball for the Super Kings, picking up three wickets while Dwayne Bravo bagged two.

Chasing a daunting 207-run target, the Super Kings’ batting lineup unfolded on 164 on the penultimate delivery of the innings.

The home side, however, got off to a flamboyant start to the run chase with Faf du Plessis leading the charge in the batting powerplay, which yielded 76 runs.

But the Super Kings’ skipper lost the momentum after the batting powerplay and that sort of personified the Super Kings’ problems, who also lost steam once the field spread out, and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Faf du Plessis top-scored for the Super Kings with a 32-ball 55 which featured five fours and as many sixes.

Calvin Savage played a fighting cameo towards the end but that only helped in slightly reducing the margin of defeat rather than forcing a turnaround.

Savage struck two fours and three sixes on his way to a 23-ball 35.

Rachin Ravindra led the bowling attack for the Super Kings with 4/16 in his 3.5 overs while Jasdeep Singh and Glenn Maxwell shared six wickets between them.

The resounding 42-run victory solidified Washington Freedom’s grip at the top of the MLC standings with 11 points in six matches while Texas Super Kings remained third with six points in as many matches.

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