Virat Kohli's wicket-taker Saurabh Netravalkar shines with three-fer vs MI New York, Steve Smith dazzles on T20 comeback in Washington Freedom's 4-run win

Mumbai-born USA left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar who wreaked havoc in recently-concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, carried his form into Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024. In Washington Freedom's first match of the season, Netravalkar bagged three wickets. Then skipper Steve Smith's unbeaten 28-ball 46 led Washington Freedom to a four-run win as per DLS method as rain played spoilsport at Church Street Park, Morrisville.
 

Pooran lacks support from other end

Earlier, Smith won the toss and opted to field first. Marco Jansen in the third over dismissed Monank Patel. Justin Dill was introduced into the attack and got rid of Shayan Jahangir in the fifth over. Nicholas Pooran pushed the scoring rate. Ruben Clinto who had hit a few boundaries got bowled by Glenn Maxwell in the eighth over. Tim David's struggles continued and he became Dill's second victim of the day. Pooran kept hitting boundaries but lacked support from the other end. 

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Netravalkar strikes, Rashid’s cameo pushes score past 150

Netravalkar came back into the attack and got rid of MI New York skipper Kieron Pollard. Then Lockie Ferguson got the big fish Pooran who scored 44 runs from 30 balls. Trent Boult could not do much damage and lost his wicket to Dill. In the 18th over, Rashid Khan hit Jansen for three sixes and a four in the 18th over. In the penultimate over bowled by Ferguson, Anrich Nortje hit a six and a four. In the final over, Netravalkar dismissed Rashid and Nortje. The Afghanistan captain contributed with a 15-ball 31 whereas Nortje scored 14 runs from nine balls. MI New York managed to post 154/9 on the board.

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Smith leads Freedom to victory

In the run chase, Washington Freedom lost the wicket of Travis Head in the second over. Pooran took a brilliant catch off Ehsan Adil's delivery. While Andries Gous struggled to rotate strike, Smith hit Nortje for two sixes and as many fours in the sixth over. After the powerplay overs, Smith hit Rashid for a couple of boundaries as well. In the eighth over, rain played spoilsport. Washington Freedom were 55/1 after 7.4 overs and four runs ahead as per DLS method. The rain was heavy and the run chase could not resume. Washington Freedom won the match by four runs (DLS method). Smith played a crucial knock of 46 runs from 28 balls laced with four fours and three sixes.
 

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