DALLAS: Steve Smith scored a swashbuckling half-century and led Washington Freedom to crush San Francisco Unicorns by 96 runs and win the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 here on Sunday.
Unicorns’ captain Corey Anderson’s decision to bowl first after winning the coin toss backfired as the Freedom registered a mammoth total of 207/5 on the board.
The Freedom, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as their explosive opener Travis Head (9) perished in the second over with just 11 runs on the board.
But in-form Steve Smith remained firm and dominated the Unicorns’ bowlers with exceptional hitting.
The right-handed batter oversaw Unicorns’ innings until his dismissal in the 17th over.
Steve Smith had an agonizing end to his brilliant knock as he fell short of a well-deserved century, scoring 88 off 52 deliveries, peppered with seven fours and six sixes.
Smith was involved in an important fourth-wicket partnership with Glenn Maxwell, which yielded 83 runs.
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Maxwell walked back to the pavilion in the 18th over after scoring a 22-ball 40.
Later, Mukhtar Ahmed (19) and Obus Pienaar (13) gave final touches to Washington Freedom’s innings.
Pat Cummins bagged two wickets for the Unicorns while Hassan Khan, Haris Rauf and Juanoy Drysdale made one scalp each.
Chasing a daunting total, the Unicorns never got going and eventually bundled out on 111 in 16 overs.
Carmi le Roux remained the top-scorer for the Unicorns with a 19-ball 20, followed by Josh Inglis (18).
Marco Jansen and Rachin Ravindra bagged three wickets each while Andrew Tye claimed two. Saurabh Netravalkar and Maxwell chipped in with a wicket apiece.
For his match-winning half-century, Steve Smith was adjudged the Player of the Match in the MLC 2024 final.
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