Rain stops Travis Head, Steve Smith's rampage as Texas Super Kings evade Washington Freedom's wrath after Faf du Plessis' 58-ball century

Major League Cricket 2024: Had the rain stopped play after one more over, Steve Smith and Travis Head's onslaught would have ensured Washington Freedom's win by DLS method.

Arun Rawal

• Tue • 09 Jul 2024

Travis Head and Steve Smith running between the wickets; Faf du Plessis celebrates his maiden MLC century

Highlights:

Washington Freedom had 62 runs on the board from 4 overs when rain stopped play.

Faf du Plessis scored his maiden century in Major League Cricket.

Rain had the final say in the high-scoring contest between Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings at Church Street Park, Morrisville on July 9. After Faf du Plessis' ton helped breach the 200-run mark at the venue for the first time, Travis Head and Steve Smith went berserk in the run chase but rain stopped play one over before the result was possible via DLS method. Both teams shared one point each. Super Kings are yet to open their win account in ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024.

Perfect start for Super Kings

Earlier, Smith won the toss and opted to bowl first. Marco Jansen and Saurabh Netravalkar were spot on in their respective first overs. Du Plessis took on Jansen in the third over hitting him for two fours and a six. Netravalkar went for two fours and a six in his second over as well. After powerplay overs, Super Kings were 67 for no loss. Du Plessis reached his half-century with a four in the ninth over. At halfway stage, Super Kings were 103 for no loss.

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Faf hits century

Smith brought Netravalkar back into the attack. Conway hit him for a six before getting deceived by a slower one. The Kiwi opener scored 39 runs from 26 balls. In the next over, Akeal Hosein got Aaron Hardie out lbw. Du Plessis took on Hosein in the next over hitting him for two sixes. Matcus Stoinis played second fiddle to him. In the 17th over, he departed for 18-ball 29 to Justin Dill. Du Plessis reached his sixth T20 century from 56 balls in the 18th over. In the penultimate over, he lost his wicket to Netravalkar as Smith took a stunning catch. His knock was studded with 12 fours and five sixes. In the last over, Jansen dismissed Calvin Savage but one boundary each from Milind Kumar and Dwayne Bravo's bat helped Super Kings post 203/5.

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Rampage cut-short by rain

Super Kings' Zia-ul-Haq started off well with a seven-run over. Smith welcomed Naveen-ul-Haq with a six. Then Head hit him for two fours to make it a 17-run over. In the next over, Smith hit Zia for two sixes. On the last ball of the over, Bravo dropped Head's catch. With rain approaching, Head went berserk and smashed Hardie for two sixes and fours each. Naveen bowled a no ball from the other end but rain got heavier and players had to go off with 62 runs on the board from four overs. One more over and a result via DLS method was possible. Head and Smith remained unbeaten for 12-ball 32 and 13-ball 26 respectively.

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