Washington Freedom vs Texas Super Kings Highlights: Game called off due to rain

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! 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, 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! 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! 50 up  for Washington Freedom! Bowls it outside off, Head thumps it over mid off for a boundary.

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

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

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

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, 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, A single now as Smith works it to square leg.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 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, Full and on leg, Smith drills it to mid on.

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 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, On middle, Smith plays it back to the bowler.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Travis Head, 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, Outside off, this is guided to point for a single.

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

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

Naveen-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, 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, Very full and around off, shaping away. Head pushes it to point.

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

Zia-ul-Haq to Steven Smith, Bowls it full and around off, Smith pushes it to mid off.

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

Zia-ul-Haq to Travis Head, 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! 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, On middle, Kumar whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Marco Jansen to Milind Kumar, 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, Way outside off, shorter and Kumar swings and misses.

Marco Jansen to Dwayne Bravo, 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! 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! Bowls it across and way outside off, left alone.

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

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

Saurabh Netravalkar to Faf du Plessis, 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, Angles across a length ball, Faf Du Plessis swings across and misses.

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

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

Lockie Ferguson to Faf du Plessis, 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.