Out for a golden duck to his Punjab Kings (PBKS) teammate Xavier Bartlett, young Mitchell Owen made hit count as he bagged his maiden five-wicket haul to help Glenn Maxwell-led Washington Freedom end San Francisco Unicorns' winning streak in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025. Skipper Matthew Short's half-century went in vain as San Francisco Unicorns suffered a 12-run defeat after six consecutive wins. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom became the second team to book their playoffs berth.
Freedom's horrendous start
Maxwell won the toss and opted to bat first. Bartlett was menacing with the new ball. He dismissed Owen and Andries Gous in the first over. In his second over, he sent the other opener, Rachin Ravindra back to the pavillion as well. Maxwell and Jack Edwards hit one six each in the fourth over. Then, Haris Rauf was brought into the attack and he dismissed Maxwell once again. After powerplay overs, Washington Freedom were 37/4. Glenn Phillips and Edwards struggled to accelerate in the middle overs. Phillips got a reprieve as Finn Allen dropped his catch. At halfway stage, Washington Freedom were 62/4.
Phillips' fifty and cameos help set challenging target
In the 16th over, Bartlett came back into the attack and broke the partnership. Edwards departed for a run-a-ball 42. In the next over, Phillips reached his century with a six from 36 balls. Romario Shepherd in his last over got hit for a six and then got rid of the Kiwi batter. Phillips scored 58 runs from 39 balls, including two fours and three sixes. Obus Pienaar and Mukhtar Ahmed went on all out attack in last two overs. Bartlett conceded 15 runs in the penultimate over, including a six and a four from Pienaar's bat. In the final over, Rauf conceded 18 runs featuring two sixes and a four. Pienaar (12-ball 30) and Mukhtar's (7-ball 19) unbeaten cameos helped Washington Freedom post 169/6.
Short's captain's knock
Skipper Short got the run chase off to a good start as he took down Saurabh Netravalkar. But, an in-form Allen fell in the sixth over. San Francisco Unicorns were 52/1 after powerpay overs. Ravindra came into the attack and knocked over Jake Fraser-McGurk. In the ninth over, Ravindra took a beating as he was hit for three sixes and a four. Short reached his fifty from 31 balls. Owen came back into the attack and got the prized wicket of Short to stage Washington Freedom's comeback. The opener scored 67 runs from 40 balls, featuring four fours and six sixes.
Owen turns the game around
In his second over, Owen got Hassan Khan and Romario Shepherd out off consecutive deliveries. Edwards joined the party with Bartlett's wicket in the 15th over. The collapse continued with Ian Holland getting the better of Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who scored 24 runs from 21 balls. In the penultimate over, Owen got Rauf and Brody Couch out off consecutive deliveries to rule out the possibility of Unicorns' comeback. 27 runs were needed off the final over. Jahmar Hamilton's unbeaten 18-ball 31 was not enough to take Unicorns over the line as they posted 157/9 and lost the match by 12 runs.