Washington Freedom captain Glenn Maxwell went berserk on US soil as he smashed 13 sixes in his unbeaten 49-ball 106 against Los Angeles Knight Riders. Jason Holder's LA Knight Riders were handed their third defeat of the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025. Washington Freedom won the match by a huge margin of 113 runs.
Maxwell became the first Washington Freedom batter to score a century. The previous highest belongs to Steve Smith who scored 88 in the previous season against San Francisco Unicorns. Maxwell also became the first batter to score a century in MLC at no.6. He is fifth captain in T20 history to score a century at no.6.
Freedom lose too many wickets
Earlier, Maxwell won the toss and opted to bat first at Oakland Coliseum, California. Rachin Ravindra was dismissed in the first over by Come Dry. Mitchell owen broke free and hit four fours, two sixes in his 11-ball 32 before falling to Jason Holder. In the next over, Dry dismissed Andries Gous as well. After powerplay overs, Washington Freedom were 66/3. Maxwell walked out to bat as Tanveer Sangha dismissed Jack Edwards in the eighth over. The pressure on Maxwell mounted as Mark Chapman lost his wicket to Sangha in the 12th over. Washington Freedom lost half the side for 93.
Maxwell unleashes fury on Knight Riders
After the 13th over, Maxwell was batting for 11 from 15 balls. In Sangha's last over, he decided to take the game on and hit three consecutive sixes. He reached his fifty with a six from 29 balls. Narine was smashed for three sixes in his last over. The six-hitting fest continued in slog overs. In the final over, Maxwell hit Holder for three sixes. He reached his century from 48 balls. The skipper finished the innings with a six as well and helped Washington Freedom post 208/5. The 13 sixes he hit is joint-most in an innings in MLC history. He shares the spot with MI New York skipper Nicholas Pooran.
Knight Riders' run chase derailed early
LA Knight Riders seemed to lay down their arms in the run chase. Saurabh Netravalkar dismissed Alex Hales for a four-ball duck in the first over. After left-arm pacer's wicket-maiden, Mark Adair knocked over Narine for a golden duck. In the fourth over, Jack Edwards ended Unmukt Chand's troubled stay at the crease by knocking him over for a seven-ball duck. Netravalkar would have got another but Maxwell dropped Saif Badar's catch. Netravalkar conceded just two runs in three overs he bowled in powerplay. Edwards returned and got the wicket of Rovman Powell for a single-digit score. Owen joined the party as well and got the wicket of Matthew Tromp. LA Knight Riders lost five wickets for just 26 runs in the eighth over.
LA Knight Riders bowled out under 100
In the 10th over, Holder tried to revive the run chase as he hit Yasir Mohammad for three consecutive sixes. In the 11th over, Owen dismissed Badar lbw. He scored 32 runs from 31 balls. In the same over, Andre Russell was dismissed as well. The collapse continued as Edwards returned to claim his third victim of the night. Holder scored 23 runs from 16 balls. Shadley van Schalkwyk tried to play out the overs but became victim to Ian Holland for a 13-ball 12. Netravalkar returned and conceded a four but wrapped up the innings with Dry's wicket on the third ball of the 17th over. LA Knight Riders were bowled out for 95, their second-lowest total.