Young Australian batter Mitchell Owen's blazing 26-ball 60 and Mark Chapman's responsible knock of 32-ball 45 not out helped Washington Freedom beat MI New York by two wickets with four balls to spare. Defending Champions Washington Freedom registered their third win on the trot whereas MI New York suffered their third loss from four games in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025.
Fiery start
Glenn Maxwell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Monank Patel got MI New York off to a good start in the powerplay overs. Quinton de Kock found a few boundaries during fielding restrictions as well. MI New York were 70 for no loss after six overs. Owen broke the partnership on the first ball he bowled. Monank was caught at long leg by Mark Adair. He scored 32 runs from 20 balls. Skipper Pooran took his time to settle. De Kock reached his fifty from 28 balls in the 11th over.
Bracwell finishes well
Maxwell introduced Ian Holland in the 12th over and he delivered with De Kock's wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 55 runs from 34 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. Bracewell got going straightaway but Pooran could not accelerate. In the 16th over, Maxwell got rid of Pooran and won the captains' battle. He scored 33 runs from 30 balls. In the penultimate over, Kieron Pollard was run out for a single-digit score. Bracewell hit a six and a four off Jack Edwards to help MI New York post 188/4. Bracewell scored 42 runs from 24 balls, including five fours and a six.
Owen lights up Dallas
Trent Boult erred in the first over. He bowled a no ball to Owen and was hit for a four. In the first over, Boult conceded 14 runs. Owen went berserk in the second over and hit Rushil Ugarkar for three sixes and a four. Naveen-ul-Haq got the first wicket in the form of Rachin Ravindra. Andries Gous arrived at the crease and hit a boundary. In the powerplay overs, Gous was dismissed by Sunny Patel. Washington Freedom were 74/2 after powerplay overs. In the next over, Owen reached his fifty from 22 balls. Sunny ended Owen's knock in the eighth over. After getting hit for a six, he got the wicket with a flighted delivery. Owen's 26-ball 60 featured five fours and as many sixes.
Chapman guides Freedom to win
Edwards and Chapman were cruising towards the target when Bracewell's touch caught the Australian short of the crease at the non-striker's end. He scored 30 runs from 23 balls. Maxwell arrived at the crease and hit two sixes and a four. But Boult knocked him over in the 15th over. In the 17th and 18th over, Naveen and Boult got one wicket each. But with Pooran's main bowlers bowled out, he went to an inexperienced Ugarkar who conceded 14 runs in the penultimate over before getting the wicket of Adair. Chapman held his nerves and led Washington Freedom to victory with four balls to spare. The Kiwi batter scored 45 runs from 32 balls.