MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand and Fletcher’s 130-run partnership goes in vain as Washington Freedom steal victory from Knight Riders in a last-ball thriller

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MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand and Fletcher’s 130-run partnership goes in vain as Washington Freedom steal victory from Knight Riders in a last-ball thriller
Washington Freedom vs Los Angeles Knight Riders

Story Highlights:

Los Angeles Knight Riders scored 213 runs in 20 overs.

Andre Fletcher smashed 104 off just 60 balls.

MLC 2025: Washington Freedom pulled off a sensational last-ball win over Los Angeles Knight Riders in the nail-biter match 17 of the Major League Cricket at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas. With this win, WAF registered their fifth win of the tournament and on the other hand, Knight Riders slumped to their fifth loss in six matches.


Fletcher and Unmukt's Heroics Go in Vain

After being asked to bat, the Los Angeles Knight Riders posted a formidable total of 213 for 4 in 20 overs with a brilliant 130-run opening stand between Andre Fletcher and Unmukt Chand. This was the highest-ever opening partnership for the Knight Riders in T20 cricket.

Fletcher was in lethal form as he smashed  104 off just 60 balls, including seven fours and six sixes before retiring out. Chand played a steady knock at the other end, scoring 41 off 30 balls. Sherfane Rutherford (20 off 11) and Andre Russell (30* off 13) added valuable late runs to take the total past 210.

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Mitchell Owen's Blazing Start Sets the Tone

While chasing, Washington Freedom started all guns blazing.  Mitchell Owen lit up the powerplay with a fiery knock, smashing 43 off just 16 balls. By the time he was dismissed on the third ball of the 4th over, Freedom managed to score 51.

Skipper Glenn Maxwell kept the momentum going with an aggressive knock of 42 off 23 balls. Andries Gous added a solid 31 off 27, while Glenn Phillips anchored the innings with an unbeaten 33 off 23 balls.

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Last-Over Drama Seals the Deal

Washington Freedom needed seven runs in the last over and Andre Russell came to bowl the last over, while Glenn Phillips and Obus Pienaar were at the crease. Russell started with a wide, giving away an extra run. Pienaar made it count, slapping the next ball for four to bring the equation down further. After that, Russell tried to shift back the momentum with three nerve-wracking dot balls. However, Pienaar again changed the momentum of the game by taking a single on the fifth ball to level the scores. It all came down to the final delivery, and Phillips calmly nudged it for a single to seal a thrilling victory for Washington Freedom.