San Francisco Unicorns skipper Matthew Short ended up on the losing side despite an unbeaten 56-ball 121 as Washington Freedom won the high-voltage Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 challenger at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, on July 17. For the second game in a row, Short batted till the end but could not take his team over the line, lacking support from the other end. In the 22 runs were needed, Andries Gous fumbled an easy run out chance as well but Short didn't have enough left in the tank to pull off a win.
Gous, Smith and Owen help Washington post big total
Short had asked Washington Freedom to bat first in the Challenger match. Mitchel Owen and Steve Smith got Washington off to a fiery start. In the sixth over, Owen hit Hassan Khan for four sixes before getting bowled four a 19-ball 42. Washington had 83 runs on the board after powerplay overs. Smith missed his fifty as well as Lhuan-dre Pretorius took a one-handed stunner off Xavier Bartlett's bowling. He scored 43 runs from 20 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Gous and Rachin Ravindra did not let the tempo drop. Washington were 127/2 after 10 overs.
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Ghulam Mudassar broke the partnership with Ravindra's wicket in the 12th over. He scored 28 runs from 14 balls. Glenn Maxwell hit a four and a six before becoming Mudassar's second victim. In the 16th over, Gous completed his half-century from 28 deliveries. Haris Rauf bowled another expensive penultimate over, conceding 20 runs. In the final over, Gous fell to Bartlett for a 40-abll 73, laced with eight fours and three sixes. Ben Dwarshuis played a 4-ball 11 cameo. He took Washington to 238/6. On the other end, Nikhil Chaudhary remained unbeaten for a 13-ball 20.
Short revives run chase
In the run chase, Pretorius fell for a 10-ball 18 cameo to Dwarshuis. Finn Allen failed again as Smith took a stunning catch off Saurabh Netravalkar's bowling in the fifth over. Short took the charge in the sixth over, hitting Owen for four sixes. San Francisco were 74/2 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Short completed his half-century from 25 balls. Owen made a comeback with Sanjay Krishnamurthi's wicket. Then, Ravindra dismissed Aaron Hardie lbw. After 10 overs, San Francisco were 116/4.
Short falls short of the target
Hassan Khan could only contribute with a 16-ball 21 cameo. He became Chaudhary's only victim in the evening. Then, Dwarshuis returned to dismiss Hammad Azam for a single-digit score. Short kept the run chase alive with a 17-run over against Chaudhary. In the 18th over, Short reached his hundred from 46 balls. Bartlett joined the party with a couple of sixes off Dwarshuis. 29 runs were needed off the final two overs. Then, Netravalkar bowled a gem of an over. He conceded just seven runs, leaving 22 to defend for Owen. Short started the over with a six and a four. Then, Gous had a golden chance to dismiss Short run out but he removed the bails before the ball got into his gloves. But, Short couldn't finish it off as San Francisco posted 231/6, falling short of the target by eight runs. Bartlett remained unbeaten for a 13-ball 28. Short returned to the dugout having hit 11 fours and eight sixes in his unbeaten 121.
Short’s unwanted MLC record
Short registered an unwanted record as he carried his bat. In the previous game, he remained stranded on 94. In this game, he broke the record for the highest score by a batter in an unsuccessful run chase in MLC history. The previous record belonged to MI New York's Nicholas Pooran, who scored an unbeaten 108 against Seattle Orcas in losing cause last season.
When will MLC 2026 final take place?
Washington Freedom will face Los Angeles Knight Riders in Oakland on July 18 (July 19 in India). This is Knight Riders' maiden MLC final appearance. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom are playing their third consecutive MLC final. They won the 2024 edition but lost to MI New York last season.