Washington Freedom vs Texas Super Kings Major League Cricket, 2024 T20

The rain has gotten heavier and the match has been CALLED OFF. So, once again Washington Freedom are forced to play against the rain gods. Their last match got them two points but would have to settle with just a point here. It was turning out to be an entertaining chase with Smith and Head up for the challenge but the rain gods had the last say. Freedom will feel a little hard done by as they were in a great position. The Kings on the other hand, won’t really mind the points being shared in this game. Action from this tournament continues on Tuesday. It is the Knight Riders taking on the Orcas. That game begins at 0600 IST (0030 GMT). Till then, goodbye and take care!

Update - It was pouring down and we have around an hour before the game can be called off! The problem is, the ground has taken a lot of beating. The good thing is, there's a lot of blue skies around but it is still drizzling. We need that to stop. Fingers crossed at the moment.

Update - It has started to rain suddenly and the players are walking off. Looks like a passing shower and we should be back shortly. The big covers have been placed now and we are in for a long delay.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, No ball!No ball! Sees Smith shuffle across and Naveen-ul-Haq bowls it outside off, almost outside the deck and it is called as a no ball.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, 2 runs.Make it 24 runs off it. A full toss, outside off, Head hits it wide of deep cover for a couple.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, Six!SIX! 22 runs already off the over. What a shot this is! Very full and on leg, Head steps across, opens his leg and wrists it over square leg for a six.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, Four!FOUR! 50 up  for Washington Freedom! Bowls it outside off, Head thumps it over mid off for a boundary.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, Wide!Wide! Full and way outside off. Head slashes and misses.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, Six!SIX! The drop is proving costly already! Slants it full and on the pads. Head slogs it high and above mid-wicket for a massive six.

Aaron Hardie to Travis Head, Four!FOUR! Hit hard! Fuller and on middle, Head powerfully struck it down to long on for a boundary.

Aaron Hardie to Steven Smith, 1 run.Length and on leg, Smith taps it to covers for a single.

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, No run.A low full toss on middle and Head flicks it straight to mid on where Dwayne Bravo drops down a sitter. How costly could this prove to be? Head gets a lifeline.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 1 run.A single now as Smith works it to square leg.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Six!SIX! Steven Smith is on a charge! That is out of the park, In the slot on middle and Smith whips it behind square on the leg side for a six.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, No run.Full and on leg, Smith drills it to mid on.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Six!SIX! Helped away! Not a good start by the bowlers here. Shorter and on leg, Smith walks across and pulls it to fine leg for a six.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, No run.On middle, Smith plays it back to the bowler.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Travis Head, Four!FOUR! Another boundary! Superb start by the batting team! On middle, shorter and Head pulls it to deep square leg and it races away.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 1 run.Outside off, this is guided to point for a single.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Travis Head, 1 run.Full and outside off, Head knocks it to mid off for a single.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Travis Head, Four!FOUR! Head joins the act now! Washington Freedom have no option but to go bang bang from the word go. Length ball, outside off, Head cuts it late past third man for four.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 1 run.Length and outside off, Smith taps it in front of covers for a single.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Six!SIX! Looks like the skippers are  going to rule today! On a length and on the pads, this is whacked over square leg for a maximum.

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, No run.Very full and around off, shaping away. Head pushes it to point.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Leg bye.Leg bye! On the pads. Smith helps it to fine leg for a single. Went off the pads.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Four!FOUR! Class from Smith! A gentle full toss on middle and this is creamed straight down the ground for a boundary.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Wide!Wide! A bumper early on but way too short and it is wided.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, No run.Bowls it full and around off, Smith pushes it to mid off.

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, 1 run.Washington Freedom are underway! Length ball on middle, swinging in. Head nudges it to square leg for one.

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, No run.A length ball, outside off, Head steps across and shoulders arms to it.

We are back. Steven Smith and Travis Head to open for Washington Freedom.

...THE CHASE...

Freedom just weren’t at their best with the ball. There were far too many boundary balls and also, the fielding wasn’t at its best. Most of their bowlers went the distance but Ferguson and Saurabh were excellent. They now face a stiff task with the bat. They do have a good batting line up with a few destructive players but they’ll be chasing what we believe is an above par score here. The Kings on the other hand, will believe they can defend this. A good second half awaits.

That’s a fine effort with the bat by the Kings and they have scored the highest score this season so far. They have just one man to thank and that’s their skipper, Faf. He played an outstanding knock scoring a ton. The others played around him and a couple of them got off to starts but couldn’t convert it into something big. Still though, they’ll believe they have a really good score on the board.

Marco Jansen to Dwayne Bravo, Four!FOUR! Texas Super Kings end with 203! Fuller and on middle, Bravo nudges it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Milind Kumar, 1 run.On middle, Kumar whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Marco Jansen to Milind Kumar, Four!FOUR! 2 runs away from 200 now! Not where he intended but gets runs. Outside off, Kumar steps across to scoop but mistimes it over fine leg for four.

Marco Jansen to Milind Kumar, No run.Way outside off, shorter and Kumar swings and misses.

Marco Jansen to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run.A length ball, outside off, Bravo slashes it straight to deep point where the fielder puts down a dolly.

Marco Jansen to Calvin Savage, OUT! c Mukhtar Ahmed b Marco Jansen.OUT! TAKEN! Almost every now and then you see this kind of catches. Full and on off, Savage heaves it to deep square leg. Mukhtar Ahmed takes it close to the fence, he lobs the ball up, comes back inside the ground and catches it back.

Marco Jansen to Calvin Savage, Wide!Wide! Bowls it across and way outside off, left alone.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Milind Kumar, No run.A dot to end a seriously good over from Saurabh Netravalkar! A yorker, outside off, Kumar fails to dig it out.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Milind Kumar, 2 runs.A length ball, outside off, Kumar punches it through point for an easy couple.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Calvin Savage, 1 run.190 up! Full and outside off, this is drilled to long off for a single.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Faf du Plessis, OUT! c Steven Smith b Saurabh Netravalkar.OUT! TAKEN! Hundred and out! Touch fuller and going across, outside off, Faf Du Plessis makes room and flashes his blade, hits off the outer half and into the hands of Steven Smith who takes it at covers.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Faf du Plessis, No run.Angles across a length ball, Faf Du Plessis swings across and misses.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Milind Kumar, 1 run.Length and on middle, this is tucked to square leg for one more.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, Four!FOUR! Century for Faf Du Plessis! Right from the start it felt like today was Faf Du Plessis' day! A brilliant century from the skipper! Full and outside off, this is hammered down to long off for four.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, Four!FOUR! Hits it through the line. On middle, Faf Du Plessis lofts it down the ground for four runs.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, No run.Dots are gold right now! On a length and outside off, Faf Du Plessis swings wildly and edges it to the keeper as it rolls to him.

Lockie Ferguson to Milind Kumar, 1 run.Rotates the strike! Shorter and on middle, this is pulled to square leg for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Milind Kumar, No run.Bangs it short and outside off, Kumar swings and misses.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.On middle, Faf Du Plessis nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Justin Dill to Milind Kumar, 2 runs.Two runs to end the over as Kumar edges it down to short third man for a couple.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! c Mukhtar Ahmed b Justin Dill.OUT! TAKEN! Something to cheer for Dill! Bowls it full and outside off. Marcus Stoinis looks to go downtown but slices it to deep point where the fielder runs in and takes an excellent catch.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Wide!Wide! Fourth wide of the over. Over the tramline and it is wided.

Justin Dill to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.A length ball, well wide outside off. Faf Du Plessis slaps it to deep cover who picks up on a bounce.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Length ball, outside off, this is cut to deep point for a single.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Wide!Wide! Once again! Over the tramline, outside off and it is wided.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Wide!Wide! More extras as this is bowled way outside off.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Four!FOUR! 200 looks well within reach now! Very full and wide of off. Marcus Stoinis dabs it wide of backward point for a boundary.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Six!SIX! PULLED AWAY! Shorter and on middle, Marcus Stoinis pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Justin Dill to Marcus Stoinis, Wide!Wide! Way down leg, This is wided.

Marco Jansen to Faf du Plessis, Six!SIX! Into the 90s now! Hits it flat! On middle, shorter and Faf Du Plessis pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Marco Jansen to Faf du Plessis, Wide!Wide! Pushes it full but way outside off, it is left alone.

Marco Jansen to Faf du Plessis, Four!FOUR! Faf Du Plessis moves into the 80s! Short of a length and on middle, this is pulled to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.On middle, Marcus Stoinis works it to point for a single.

Marco Jansen to Marcus Stoinis, Four!FOUR! STREAKY! Shorter and outside off, Stoinis looks to pull but gets a top edge which flies to third man for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Marcus Stoinis, No run.Very full and on middle, Stoinis pushes it to covers.

Marco Jansen to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Fuller and on middle, Faf Du Plessis makes room and lofts it to mid-wicket. He jogs to the other end for a single.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Another slower one outside off. Faf mistimes it to mid off and takes one.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Just the one this time! Around off. This is pushed towards cover for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, No run.Another dot! Stoinis makes room. A slower one on middle. Stoinis swings but misses.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, No run.Fuller and on off. Stoinis jams it back to the bowler.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, Four!FOUR! Nice and fine! Raining boundaries again! On the pads. This is pulled fine on the leg side and this races away to the fence.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, No run.Angled into the pads. This is tucked to mid-wicket.

Akeal Hosein to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Single to end then! Around off. This is pushed down to long off for one.

Akeal Hosein to Marcus Stoinis, Four!FOUR! MS joins the act now! Shorter and around off. This is slapped past cover and it races away.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.On the bounce! Steps out and lofts it towards long on. It goes on the bounce to the fielder there.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, Six!SIX! Two in a row! Yet again makes room. Faf is followed. This is pulled again and it goes well over the mid-wicket fence.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, Six!SIX! Over the fence. A little too short and Faf pounces on it. He rocks back and pulls it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. Welcome one. Things had gone a little quiet.

Akeal Hosein to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Flatter and on middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.A quick bumper on the body. Stoinis looks to pull. It hits the glove and rolls down to fine leg. A run taken. Anothet top over for the bowling side.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Takes one! On off. This is driven towards mid off for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, No run.Another dot! Around off. Length. Faf guides it to point.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, 1 run.Length again and on off. This is pushed towards cover for one.

Lockie Ferguson to Marcus Stoinis, No run.Dots building up! Fuller and on middle. This is driven towards the bowler who makes a half stop.

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Angled into the pads. This is worked down to fine leg for one.

Akeal Hosein to Aaron Hardie, OUT! lbw b Akeal Hosein.OUT! That is as plumb as it gets! Two wickets in two overs. Flatter and on middle. This one stays low. Hardie looks to walk across and flick but misses and is hit right in front. Another low score for Hardie.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Steps out again and slams it but to long on for one.

Akeal Hosein to Aaron Hardie, 1 run.Just the one again! On the pads. Hardie works it through square leg for one.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Steps out now but does not get to the pitch of it. Swings but it goes off the inner half down to long on for one.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, No run.Faf makes room and he is followed. Hosein fires it down the leg side. Faf looks to pull but misses.

Akeal Hosein to Faf du Plessis, No run.Fired on the pads. Faf looks to sweep but misses to get hit on the pads.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Aaron Hardie, No run.Yet another dot! Good comeback by Saurabh Netravalkar! On off. On a good length. This is guided to point.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Aaron Hardie, No run.Around off. Good length. This is guided to point.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Faf du Plessis, 1 run.Faf now takes one as he opens the face and runs it down to third man.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Aaron Hardie, 1 run.Hardie is off the mark! Around off. This is guided down to third man for one.

Saurabh Netravalkar to Devon Conway, OUT! c Mukhtar Ahmed b Saurabh Netravalkar.OUT!  TAKEN! That is a welcome breakthrough and it is that man, Saurabh Netravalkar who provides it. He bangs it short again. Slower one. Conway pulls but it goes more off the toe end. The fielder runs in, dives forward and takes it with a juggle. Is that the breakthrough which gets Smith's side back into the game?

Saurabh Netravalkar to Devon Conway, Six!SIX! That is massive! A biggie to start the over! Short and on middle. Conway pulls it well over the mid-wicket.