Right then, that will be it from us for this contest. We hope you enjoyed the coverage. The action continues at the Major League Cricket, 2024. The next match of the competition will see the Texas Super Kings locking horns with the MI New York at Church Street Park in Morrisville. That game will be played on July 13th and will start at 12.30 am IST (7.00 pm GMT, the previous day). But as you know, you can always join early for all the build-up. Until then, take care, and cheers!
Steve Smith, the Washington Freedom skipper, says that it was a hard-fought game. Adds that the top order did not great start but Lahiru Milantha and Obus Pienaar played smart cricket and got the job done. Shares that it was a slow and low wicket and all the bowlers did a good job. Mentions that they had a few hiccups with the bat but glad to be on the winning front. Reckons that the wicket got a tad slow so it was important to cash on the powerplay and would have been easy if someone from the top order had made a 50-60 but he's happy that the middle and lower order got their chance and they came out victorious.
The losing skipper of Seattle Orcas, Heinrich Klaasen says they lost the game in the last four overs with the bat as they couldn't add a lot to the total and left with a below-par score. Adds that they are lacking that one guy in the last few overs who could give them the perfect balance with both bat and ball to finish things well. Mentions that they needed to pick up wickets early on and they did that as well but they were good 15-20 runs shot at the end with the bat. Closes by saying the pitch was good and had they been at 140-145 by the end of their innings, the result could have been different.
Lockie Ferguson is the Player of the Match for his stellar spell. He says that it’s a good start to the campaign and nice to get in full 40 overs. Adds that as a group, it’s been great. Mentions that he tried bowling in good areas and it worked well for them. Ends by sharing that Heinrich Klaasen was looking dangerous and he's that they got his wicket.
Rachin Ravindra is up for a chat. He says it wasn't easy in the middle to bat but it was easier to bat while the ball was new. Adds that Imad Wasim bowled a maiden first up but him being a left-hander was a match-up for him and the support staff backed him for taking it on and it worked for him. Mentions that they look to stick to their plans and today despite the fall of wickets they kept playing their brand of cricket and eventually won.
Earlier today, Seattle Orcas were asked to bat first and they made a below-par score of 124 with only Heinrich Klaasen making an attacking fifty while the rest of the batting struggled. Lockie Ferguson and Saurabh Netravalkar accounted for seven wickets between them and broke the back of Seattle Orcas' batting. Seattle Orcas are stranded at the bottom of the table while Washington Freedom moves to the top position. It's still early days in the season but teams will want to make winning a habit.
Seattle Orcas did not have a huge score to defend but they started well by picking an early wicket. They gave away a few freebies through the powerplay but came back strong to put a dent in the Washington Freedom batting. Nandre Burger was the pick of the bowlers taking 2 for 26 while Harmeet Singh, Imad Wasim, and Cameron Gannon chipped in with one apiece and kept it tight. Seattle Orcas have suffered their second loss of the season and will want to turnaround their campaign quickly.
A hard-fought run chase from the Washington Freedom takes them to the top of the table and they are unbeaten in the season so far. Chasing a tricky score of 125 for the win, the Freedom lost Travis Head for a duck but Smith and Ravindra stuck a few boundaries and got their side to a decent start in the powerplay. The Seattle Orcas came back strongly and reduced the Freedom to 64 for 5 with all their big guns back in the hut. Lahiru Milantha and Obus Pienaar joined hands and added an unbeaten 63-run stand to steer their side home. Lahiru Milantha made a steady 33 off 30 while Obus Pienaar chipped in with 31 crucial runs. Washington Freedom are the only unbeaten side in the tournament so far and will hope to keep it going.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, Four!FOUR! BANG! Obus Pienaar hits the winning boundary! This was pitched full and at the stumps. Obus Pienaar makes room and hammers it to the deep extra cover region for a boundary. Washington Freedom win by 5 wickets with 10 balls to spare.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, Wide!WIDE! Slips a low full toss, down the leg. Obus Pienaar plays and misses. Wide signaled and Zaman Khan has to rebowl it.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, 2 runs.Short of a length, angling outside leg. Obus Pienaar makes room and pulls it to the deep backward square leg region for a brace. Just three needed now.
Nandre Burger to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Low full toss on off. Obus Pienaar drives it to deep point for one.
Nandre Burger to Obus Pienaar, Four!FOUR! PUT AWAY! Full and in the slot on middle and leg. Obus Pienaar makes room and gets a thick inside edge to heave it through the mid-wicket region for a boundary.
Nandre Burger to Obus Pienaar, No run.Hard-length on off. Obus Pienaar drops into the off-side and wanted the run but Lahiru Milantha sends him back.
Nandre Burger to Obus Pienaar, Wide!Wide! Bangs it short, over the batter. Obus Pienaar sways out of the line and lets it go. Wide signaled.
Nandre Burger to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Lands it on a hard-length on off. Lahiru Milantha dabs it past the short third for a run. The 50-run stand is up between Lahiru Milantha and Obus Pienaar.
Nandre Burger to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Pitched full and at the stumps. Obus Pienaar pushes it toward mid-off for a quick single.
Nandre Burger to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Back of a length on off. Lahiru Milantha lets the ball to come toward him and guides it to deep third for a single.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Short of a length, outside off. Lahiru Milantha stays back and upper-cuts it to deep third for one.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, Four!FOUR! Up and Away! Clean Strike! Pitched full and at the stumps. Lahiru Milantha lifts it toward the long-off region. One bounce and into the ropes.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Full-length delivery, outside off. Obus Pienaar drags it to long-on for one.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Length delivery, angling away. Lahiru Milantha guides it to deep third for one more.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.On a length, skids through on off. Obus Pienaar dabs it to deep third for one.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Full on the pad. Lahiru Milantha nudges it to deep square leg for one.
23 runs needed off the last four overs and the core consisting of players from South Africa and Pakistan for Seattle Orcas will agree that this is defendable.
Cameron Gannon to Obus Pienaar, Four!FOUR! SMOKED! Back of a length, angling in. Obus Pienaar charges down the pitch and pulls it to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a crunching boundary.
Cameron Gannon to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.On a length, angling away. Lahiru Milantha runs it down to deep third for one.
Cameron Gannon to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Good length, just outside off. Obus Pienaar punches it to backward point.
Cameron Gannon to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Good length, just outside off. Lahiru Milantha taps it to the left of the keeper for a single.
Cameron Gannon to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.On a length, around off. Obus Pienaar dabs it to deep third for a single.
Cameron Gannon to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Short of a length at the body. Lahiru Milantha pulls it to deep square leg for one.
Strategic Break! Washington Freedom needs 32 off the final five overs. They are ahead in the game but the Seattle Orcas are giving it a real fight. A couple of wickets here would tilt the tide in favor of the Orcas. Washington Freedom will hope for Lahiru Milantha and Obus Pienaar to carry on and take their side home to get two more points on the board.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Pitched full at the stumps. Lahiru Milantha drives it down the ground for a single.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Tosses it on middle. Lahiru Milantha nudges into the leg side.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, 2 runs.Arm ball, outside off. Lahiru Milantha carves it to deep backward point for one.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, Four!FOUR! SHOT! A much-needed boundary for the Washington Freedom! Flatter, around off. Lahiru Milantha makes room and punches it through extra cover for a sublime boundary.
Imad Wasim to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Arm ball on middle. Obus Pienaar hangs back and knocks it to long-on for a single.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Floated on off. Lahiru Milantha skips down and lofts it on the bounce to long-on for one.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Flatter arm ball on middle. Obus Pienaar pushes it back at the bowler.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Tosses it on off. Lahiru Milantha drives it to long off for one.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, 2 runs.Full and on the middle and leg. Lahiru Milantha flicks it to the deep square leg region for a couple.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Drifted on the pad. Obus Pienaar nudges it round the corner for one.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Flat and at the stumps. Lahiru Milantha eases it to long-on for a single.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Flatter arm ball on middle. Obus Pienaar knocks it to long-on for one.
Imad Wasim to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Tossed up around off, Obus Pienaar drills this to wide long off and runs a single.
Imad Wasim to Obus Pienaar, No run.Floats one around the pads, Obus Pienaar looks to nudge this on leg but misses. The ball clips his pads though.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Tossed up around off, Lahiru Milantha drives this through cover for a single.
Imad Wasim to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Fuller around off, Obus Pienaar rolls this to long on for one.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Pitched full, on off. Lahiru Milantha punches it through extra cover for a single.
Imad Wasim to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Flatter on off. Lahiru Milantha knocks it back at the bowler.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Full and at the stumps. Lahiru Milantha works it through backward square leg for a single. Just two runs off the over.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Slower through the air and turning into the middle. Lahiru Milantha advances and turns into the leg side off his pad.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Flatter arm ball on middle. Obus Pienaar knocks it down to long-on for one.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Flat and quick on off. Obus Pienaar knocks it to cover point fielder.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Follows the batter, outside leg. Obus Pienaar turns it to short mid-wicket.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Tossed up on off. Obus Pienaar pushes it to backward point.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Wide yorker from Zaman Khan. Lahiru Milantha squirts it to backward point.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, Wide!WIDE! Bangs it short and over the batter. Lahiru Milantha ducks and lets it go. Another wide.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Lands it full, angling away. Lahiru Milantha plays and misses.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, Wide!WIDE! He has to reload it. Full and angles down the leg. Lahiru Milantha plays and misses. Wide signaled.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, 1 run.Full and at the stumps. Obus Pienaar drives it toward mid-off for a single. Ryan Rickelton runs around and cuts it off. Keeps it to one.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, No run.Good length, attacking the stumps. Obus Pienaar knocks it toward silly mid-on.
Zaman Khan to Obus Pienaar, No run.On a length, skids through on off. Obus Pienaar dabs it to backward point.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Short of a length, angled down the leg. Lahiru Milantha pulls it to long-leg for a single.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Flatter arm ball on off. Obus Pienaar knocks it back at the bowler. A successful over comes to an end.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, Four!FOUR! PUNISHED! Short and wide outside off. Obus Pienaar goes back and cuts it powerfully through extra cover for a cracking boundary.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Full and straight at the stumps. Obus Pienaar defends on the front foot.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Tad short, outside off. Obus Pienaar knocks it to covers.
Harmeet Singh to Obus Pienaar, No run.Tosses it on off. Obus Pienaar prods and defends.
Obus Pienaar is in at 7.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, OUT! c Heinrich Klaasen b Harmeet Singh.OUT! In the air and taken! Harmeet Singh gets the massive wicket of Glenn Maxwell. Tosses it full, on the middle stump line. Glenn Maxwell makes to go inside out over covers but hits it off the toe end of the blade toward the extra cover region. Heinrich Klaasen runs to his left and takes a sharp catch. Washington Freedom have lost half their side now.
Strategic Break! This game hangs in balance nicely as Seattle Orcas are giving a real fight to defend their low score. They have picked up four wickets so far and will hope to keep chipping away at regular intervals. For the Washington Freedom, Glenn Maxwell holds the key to take his side deep and close to the target.
Zaman Khan to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.Short and wide outside off. Glenn Maxwell cuts it to sweeper cover for one.
Zaman Khan to Glenn Maxwell, Wide!WIDE! Full and slips down the leg. Glenn Maxwell plays and misses. Wide signaled by the umpire.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Pitched full, outside off. Lahiru Milantha drives it to deep point for one.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, No run.Bangs it short, on the middle and leg stump line. Lahiru Milantha ducks and lets it go.
Zaman Khan to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.DROPPED! Low full toss, slipping down the leg. Glenn Maxwell gets low and flicks it toward the short fine leg region. Hammad Azam, stationed at short fine leg, puts down a tough chance.
Zaman Khan to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.On a length, around off. Lahiru Milantha taps it over the keeper and toward a fine third man region for one.
Zaman Khan to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.Short of a length, around off. Glenn Maxwell hangs back and dabs it to third man for a single.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.Low full toss on middle and leg. Maxwell makes room and drills it to long-on for one.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, No run.Darted full and down the leg. Glenn Maxwell swipes it to short fine leg.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, No run.Slower through the air, around off. Maxwell misses the reverse sweep.
Harmeet Singh to Lahiru Milantha, 1 run.Tad short and turning in. Lahiru Milantha nudges it through backward square leg for one.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.Fired in at the stumps. Maxwell reverses it to deep backward point for one.
Harmeet Singh to Glenn Maxwell, No run.Tosses it on off. Maxwell dabs it to backward point.
Nandre Burger to Lahiru Milantha, 2 runs.Pitched full and at the stumps. Lahiru Milantha bunts it past mid-on and toward the long-on region for a couple.
Lahiru Milantha is in at 6.
Nandre Burger to Mukhtar Ahmed, OUT! c Imad Wasim b Nandre Burger.OUT! STUNNING CATCH! Nandre Burger gets his second! Pitched full, around off. Mukhtar Ahmed drives it aerially toward the cover region. Imad Wasim stationed there, takes a stunning one-handed catch. The ball was traveling as Wasim put his left hand out and hung onto the grab. Washington Freedom lose their fourth and slide further into trouble.
Nandre Burger to Mukhtar Ahmed, No run.Short of a good length, around off. Mukhtar Ahmed cuts into covers.
Nandre Burger to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.Hard-length, outside off. Glenn Maxwell guides it to deep third for a single.
Nandre Burger to Mukhtar Ahmed, 1 run.Back of a length on off. Mukhtar Ahmed steers it to deep third for one.
Nandre Burger to Mukhtar Ahmed, Four!FOUR! EDGED AWAY! Short of a length, around off. Mukhtar Ahmed hangs back and edges it past the keeper for a boundary to third man. Quinton de Kock jumps to his right and can only get a finger to it.
Cameron Gannon to Glenn Maxwell, Four!FOUR! WONDERFUL SHOT! Maxwell is off the mark with a boundary! On a length, around off. Glenn Maxwell stays back and steers it past the backward point fielder for a glorious boundary to end the over.
Glenn Maxwell is in at 5.
Cameron Gannon to Steven Smith, OUT! b Cameron Gannon.OUT! BOWLED'EM! Cameron Gannon gets the big fish and Seattle Orcas are alive and kicking in the game! Back of a length delivery on the off-stump line. Steven Smith advances to punch this through covers but misses and the ball cannonts into the stumps. Washington Freedom lose their skipper for just 12 as they are in some trouble. Washington Freedom lose their third inside the powerplay.
Cameron Gannon to Mukhtar Ahmed, 1 run.Lands it on a length on off. Mukhtar Ahmed works it through square leg for a single.
Cameron Gannon to Mukhtar Ahmed, No run.Hard-length on the leg pole. Mukhtar Ahmed turns it to the man at mid-wicket.
Cameron Gannon to Steven Smith, 1 run.Back of a length on off. Steven Smith tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Cameron Gannon to Steven Smith, 2 runs.On a length on off. Steven Smith skips down and turns it through mid-wicket for a couple.
Nandre Burger to Steven Smith, 1 run.Pace-off, short of a good length, around off. Steven Smith tucks it through square leg for one.