Washington Freedom prolonged their unbeaten run in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 with a complete eight wicket victory over Los Angeles Knight Riders in Morrisville. Opting to bowl first on a sluggish pitch, Freedom’s bowlers capitalized on the situations, limiting Knight Riders to a modest whole of 129.
The choice to bowl first proved to be a masterstroke, because the pitch provided simply sufficient help to maintain the Knight Riders batters in verify, resulting in a snug chase for Freedom.
Saurabh Netravalkar’s bowling masterclass
Saurabh Netravalkar, who had been a standout performer within the latest T20 World Cup, showcased his prowess with an outstanding spell, returning figures of 4/35. He struck twice in his opening over, eradicating Sunil Narine with an ideal full size supply that knocked over his stumps and Unmukt Chand with a brief pitched ball.
By the fifth over, Knight Riders had been reeling at 18/4, with Jason Roy and Shakib Al Hasan additionally again within the pavilion. Roy was caught at deep midwicket making an attempt to clear the boundary, whereas Shakib was bowled by way of the gate by a fantastically disguised slower ball. Saif Badar tried to stabilize the innings with a cautious 35, taking part in some elegant pictures and rotating the strike successfully. Nevertheless, his dismissal – trapped LBW by a skidding supply from Rachin Ravindra – triggered one other collapse.
Additionally READ: Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024: Complete squads of all six teams
Steve Smith’s outstanding catch off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling
Glenn Maxwell then tightened the screws along with his correct off-spin, ending with figures of three/15. His spell included the essential wicket of Andre Russell, who appeared harmful throughout his temporary keep on the crease. Russell, making an attempt to speed up the scoring, was caught at long-on, failing to clear the boundary. After which, Steve Smith‘s distinctive fielding claimed the wicket of Nitish Kumar.
On the third ball of the eleventh over, Maxwell bowled a supply pitched on a size at center stump. Nitish tried to clear the ropes however failed to attain the specified elevation. The ball went in direction of brief mid-wicket, the place Smith timed his leap completely and took a surprising airborne catch.
Right here’s the video:
📽️ | An absolute screamer ft. Steve Smith 🤩#MLC2024 #FreedomExpress #LAKRvWF | @MLCricket | @stevesmith49 pic.twitter.com/scmsyW1591
— Washington Freedom (@WSHFreedom) July 14, 2024
Highly effective batting seals the win for Washington Freedom
After that Lockie Ferguson added to the stress along with his categorical tempo, taking two wickets in fast succession, guaranteeing that LAKR folded with eight balls left of their innings.
Within the chase, Travis Head and captain Smith offered a stable begin, amassing 61 runs within the powerplay. Head was notably aggressive, scoring 40 off simply 23 balls, smashing six sixes in his 32-ball 54. Regardless of his dismissal, which led to a slight dip within the scoring charge, Smith anchored the innings with an unbeaten 42. His composed knock ensured that Freedom chased down the goal comfortably, with eight wickets and 4 overs to spare, sustaining their excellent begin to the season.
