Smith, Gous score 100s as Washington Freedom break Punjab Kings' record for highest T20 run chase

Skipper Smith and Andries Gous’ tons outclassed Nicholas Pooran’s fastest MLC century from just 31 balls. They chased down the target with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare to qualify for the Challenger clash against San Francisco Unicorns on July 16 at the same venue. MI New York paid the price for dropping crucial catches.

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Most sixes, centuries in T20 match record broken

This is the first T20 match where three centuries have been scored. Washington Freedom and MI New York combined to break the record for most sixes in a match. As many as 51 sixes were hit in the match.

Pooran’s brutal assault

Smith won the toss and opted to bowl first. Monank Patel departed early. Pooran and Quinton de Kock wreaked havoc in the powerplay overs. Pooran hit Glenn Maxwell for a hat-trick of sixes. MI New York had 100 runs on the board after powerplay overs. De Kock departed after a 24-ball 51. Kieron Pollard took his place and the dominance from both ends continued. In the 12th over, Pooran reached his fifth T20 ton for 31 balls, the fastest in MLC history. He fell to Nikhil Chaudhary in the same over by Nikhil Chaudhary.

Pollard attacks but Ravindra pulls back score

Pollard then hit Ian Holland for a hat-trick of sixes. He reached his fifty from 17 balls. Rachin Ravindra staged Freedom's mini-comeback with four wickets for 29 runs in four overs. Pollard departed for a 25-ball 64 to Ben Dwarshuis. Trent Boult finished with a flourish, hitting Ravindra for two sixes and a four. MI New York posted 266/9 on the board.

Smith, Gous recover after poor start

Washington's run chase did not get off to a good start. Shakib Al Hasan knocked over Mitchell Owen in the first over. In his second over, Shakib got the wicket of Ravindra out for a single-digit score. Smith hit the first six of the innings in the third over. Gous and Smith tried to use the powerplay overs. Washington Freedom had 61/2 on the board, needing another 206 runs from remaining 14 overs. In the ninth over, Smith brought up his fifty from just 19 balls. In the 10th over, his catch was dropped by short third man fielder. At the halfway stage, Washington Freedom were 126/2.

MI New York’s missed chances

Shakib was brought back into the attack and Smith miscued a shot. Pollard dropped an easy catch at long-on and ended up getting injured as well. In the same over, Shakib missed a caught and bowled chance to dismiss Gous. In the 12th over, Gous got to his fifty from 29 balls. In the same over, Boult and De Kock had a chance to run out Smith but couldn't effect it.

Carnage from Smith, Gous

The acceleration came in the 13th over as Gous whacked Romario Shepherd for four consecutive sixes and a four. In the next over, Pollard returned and was hit for three sixes, including two off Smith's bat. Gous continued the carnage and hit Tajinder Dhillion for three sixes and a four. 31 runs came of the over which made the equation 42 runs from last five overs. Gous reached his ton from just 40 balls. He became first American batter to score a century in MLC history.

In the 16th over, Smith reached his seventh T20 hundred from 40 balls, the fastest of his career. After taking Washington Freedom to doorstep of victory. Rushil Ugarkar dismissed Gous. He scored 132 runs from 51 balls, featuring 10 fours and 12 sixes. Their partnership of 241 off 89 balls is the joint second-highest in T20 history for any wicket. It is also the highest in franchise T20 cricket.

Then, Chaudhary got out trying to finish the game with a flourish but Smith batted patiently. On the fourth ball of the penultimate over, Maxwell went for a six over a deep backward square leg to finish the run chase in style. Smith remained unbeaten for 110 off 48 balls, including seven fours and nine sixes.

Gous was named 'Player of the match' for his commendable acceleration after reaching 50.