Given just 1 chance by Delhi Capitals, South Africa batter smashes 5 sixes from 9 balls in 5-over game as Texas Super Kings beat Washington Freedom by 43 runs

MLC 2025: Rain played spoilsport in Lauderhill, Florida, delaying the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 encounter between Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom. A five overs per side game was possible and Super Kings stunned Washington Freedom by posting 87/2. South Africa's Donovan Ferreira hit five sixes from just nine balls to help set a daunting target for Glenn Maxwell's side. It turned out to be too much for Washington Freedom as they lost the match by 43 runs. The massive win helped Texas Super Kings move to the second spot with a better net run rate (NRR) than Washington Freedom.

Stoinis departs early, Mitchell retired out

In the absence of an injured Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis led Texas Super Kings. Maxwell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Stoinis opened the innings and edged one to wicketkeeper Andries Gous off the second ball bowled by Saurabh Netravalkar. In the second over, Shubham Ranjane hit Jack Edwards for two sixes and a four. 11 runs came off Mitchell Owen's first over. After the third over, Daryl Mitchell got retired out as he was struggling to time the ball. 

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Ranjane, Ferreira go berserk

Ferreira arrived at the crease and hit Netravalkar for a six on the second ball he faced. Then, Ranjane hit the left-arm pacer for two fours and a six. Netravalkar conceded 25 runs in the fourth over. Maxwell trusted Owen to bowl the final over of the innings. Ferreira hit the first ball for a massive 106 metre six over deep mid-wicket. Owen bowled the next one short and slower, Ferreira was up for hit and hit it for another maximum. Owen bowled another short one and Ferreira hit it over his head for a six. On the next two balls, Ferreira and Ranjane ran hard between the wickets to get two twos. On the last ball, Owen bowled it fuller and Ferreira smacked it over the ropes. He scored 37 runs from 9 runs at a strike rate of 411.11. On the other end, Ranjane contributed with an unbeaten 14-ball 39.

No fight in run chase

Nandre Burger struck twice in the first over. Rachin Ravindra hit a four and a six but got caught behind trying to play a scoop shot. Skipper Maxwell played it straight to backward point fielder Akeal Hosein and departed for a golden duck. Owen hit Hosein for a six followed by three dot balls. Then, a wild swing landed in Zia-ul-Haq's hands at backward point. Glenn Phillips hit two boundaries but Noor Ahmad bowled well according to the situation and conceded 11 runs. Hosein conceded 12 runs in his second over and for the final over, Noor had to bowl just six legal deliveries. The Afghan spinner knocked over Andries Gous and conceded just three runs. Phillips remained unbeaten for 11-ball 18 as Washington Freedom posted 44/4 and lost the match by 43 runs. This is defending champions Washington Freedom's first defeat after six consecutive wins.