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Washington Freedom scripted history at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, as they pulled off the highest successful run chase in Major League Cricket (MLC) history. Mitchell Owen's 52-ball 89 and Andries Gous' unbeaten 45-ball 80 helped Glenn Maxwell-led Washington Freedom chase down the target of 221 against Texas Super Kings with seven wickets in hand and two balls to spare.
The previous highest belonged to MI New York. The Nicholas Pooran-led side chased down 201 against Seattle Orcas with seven wickets in hand earlier this season.
Du Plessis' captain's knock, Super Kings set daunting target
Maxwell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Faf du Plessis used the fielding restrictions well and found boundaries. In the fifth over, Owen was brought into the attack. Smit Patel hit him for two sixes and a four before getting caught at short third man. After powerplay overs, Texas Super Kings were 66/1. In the eighth over, Rachin Ravindra was brought into the attack and he knocked over Saiteja Mukkamalla. Marcus Stoinis arrived at the crease and hit a six to get off the mark. In the ninth over, Du Plessis' catch was dropped and he got this fifty from 21 balls. He rubbed salt on Jack Edwards' wounds by following it up with a six and two fours. At the halfway stage, Texas Super Kings were 114/2.
Owen was brought back into the attack and he had the last laugh against Du Plessis. He departed for a 31-ball 69 laced with eight fours and four sixes. Milind Kumar got into the act and hit Ravindra for a six and two fours in the 13th over. Stoinis lost his wicket to his Australian teammate Maxwell in the 16th over. He scored 32 runs from 24 balls. Owen was handed the ball in slog overs and he delivered with Donovan Ferreira's wicket. Maxwell bowled the 18th over where he conceded 16 runs but got Milind's wicket. He got out caught and bowled for an 18-ball 31. In the last two overs, Shubham Ranjane (10-ball 26) and Calvin Savage's (8-ball 15) unbeaten cameos helped Texas Super Kings post 220/6.
Owen, Gous score big in middle overs
Owen and Ravindra got the run chase off to a steady start. In the third over, Owen's catch was dropped by Ferreira off Nandre Burger's bowling. In the fifth over, Adam Miline got the wicket of Ravindra. After powerplay overs, Washington Freedom were 53/1. Owen got another reprieve in the ninth over as his catch was dropped by Ferreira at long-on. Owen followed it up by hitting Stoinis for two sixes. The young Australian opener reached his half-century from 35 balls. At the halfway stage, Washington Freedom were 96/1.
In the 12th over, Noor Ahmad was targetted as he went for 22 runs. Owen hit the Afghan left-arm chinaman bowler for two sixes and a four. Gous joined the party as well, hitting Ferreira for three sixes. In the 14th over, the USA batter reached his fifty from 27 balls. Milne returned to break the second-wicket partnership. Owen got caught at wide long-off by Milind. He hit eight fours and five sixes in his 52-ball 89.
Maxwell's cameo, Freedom get over the line
Ferriera continued to have a bad day at the office as he went for 16 runs in his last over. Skipper Maxwell hit a couple of sixes in his 12-ball 20 but became Milne's third victim of the evening. When he departed, Washington Freedom needed 13 runs from nine balls. Glenn Phillips ended the penultimate over with a six. Stoinis was given the task to defend five runs in the final over. Phillips hit a four off the fourth ball as Washington Freedom pulled off the highest run chase in the league's history.
With their fourth win, Washington Freedom are placed second on the points table. They are followed by Texas Super Kings at third position with three wins from five games.
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