END OF OVER:
20 | 7 Runs 3 Wkts | WSF: 187/9 | RR: 9.35

  • Nikhil Chaudhary27 (19b)
  • Lockie Ferguson0 (1b)
  • Akeal Hosein4-0-36-4
  • Adam Milne4-0-31-2

Akeal Hosein's last-over hat-trick brought us all to the edge of our seats! What a slow-burning game it was, one that kept getting tenser and tenser until it became too close for comfort for both teams and it stayed alive right till the very end. Mitchell Owen was batting in a different league, producing some outstanding hits and manufacturing some exquisite shots while Steve Smith supported him ably. They then lost quick wickets before Nikhil Chaudhary steadied the ship and remained there till the end to get the job done. Earlier, Donovan Ferreira's quickfire 44, Wiaan Mulder's 43 and some handy contributions from Saiteja Mukkamalla and Rilee Rossouw gave Super Kings a respectable total. Washington Freedom break their losing hoodoo and must be buoyed by this morale-boosting win. They surely needed this victory and getting it against a formidable side will give them a real shot in the arm. Hope you enjoyed this cracking game of cricket as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. For now, it's goodbye from me, Rvel Zahid, on behalf of our team at Cricinfo

Faf du Plessis, Texas Super Kings Captain: Yeah, great game of cricket. I think it's always just nice to be a part of something that's a thriller right to the end. Obviously, it hurts a bit because you're on the losing side. But credit both ways. Credit to the way they came out and batted, the way they put pressure back on us. Mitch's innings was unbelievable. We gave him a chance in a tight game like that, and that goes a long way. And just the way we responded to come back; most teams would not get it close. So credit to the boys for fighting till the end. Yeah, right through the last five or six overs, weighing on my mind was wickets. With the ball reversing, I felt the seamers could really get wickets and try and push it as deep as possible for that last over. Six runs; I know he'll feel disappointed not winning the game because he got us to a position where we perhaps would have won it. But the way he kept us in it in that last over was a tremendous effort. Yeah, I was surprised. I thought the wicket would get a bit lower towards the end, and it had done that throughout the competition so far. But like I said, their batting was really good. If you take away Mitch Owen compared to the rest of the batting lineup, he was definitely the danger man. So that chance, for me, is probably where we'd look back. Take those 30 runs off a 190 chase, and all of a sudden it looks a lot different.

Nagraj Todur : "Nikhil Chaudhary!! You are beauty..Won tough match!!"

Darshil: "Hat-trick for Akeal!!"

Nagraj Todur : "Nikhil Chaudhary is player to watch for Aussie!! Good allrounder prospects when Maxi is about to retire from T20 format for Aussie!!"

19.6
6
Hosein to Chaudhary, SIX, He has done it! Looped up on a length at middle and it stays a touch low, pulls it effortlessly over midwicket for a flat six and Chaudhary has taken his team to the doorstep of victory! This is unbelievable stuff! Cool as a cucumber and he has got ice in his veins!!! Look at him go! Running and pumping his fists, over the moon! Franchise owners embrace him. Chaudhry was stranded on the non-striker's end for the entire over, just got one delivery and he got the job done for his team! Wow, what an exhilarating contest it turned out to be!
19.5
1lb
Hosein to Ferguson, 1 leg bye, Tossed up on a length and it curls in at leg-stump, tries to flick it leg-side and doesn't connect as the ball rolls over to cover-point. Akeal takes a review but it looked leg-sidish and appears to be missing leg-stump or clipping at best. On-field decision is not out. Pitching in line, impact is umpire's call and the bal is missing leg-stump
19.4
W
Hosein to Asif Mehmood, OUT, Steps leg-side and attempts a full-blooded pull and loses his balance in the process, not sure if his feet was back into the crease before the bails were off and keeper appeals for a stumping. Lots of excitement out there. Well, there's nothing behind the line and guess what Akeal Hosein has picked up a hat trick! This is the stuff of legends! He was the replacement in the side today and look at the impact he is making! He has totally changed the complexion fo the game! What a last over it has turned out to be!

Asif Mehmood st †Mukkamalla b Hosein 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

19.3
W
Hosein to Aponso, OUT, Fired in on a length and drifting in with the angle, he pumps it leg-side and finds the man stationed at deep square! What a masterstroke by Faf du Plessis to hand Akeal the over. He has heaps of experience and doesn't flinch in these situations. Another batter trying for a glory shot perishes in the process and now they have only got three ball to get the job done!

MA Aponso c Mulder b Hosein 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

19.2
W
Hosein to Jansen, OUT, Floated on a fuller length at leg-stump, he takes the aerial route and miscues the skier big time! Went high up in the air and nestled in Lamba's hands at deep square region. Need to bring Chaudhry back on strike

M Jansen c Lamba b Hosein 9 (6m 5b 0x4 1x6) SR: 180

19.1
0
Hosein to Jansen, no run, 6 off 6 needed Around the wicket, looped up on a length at middle, reverse it straight to point

END OF OVER:
19 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | WSF: 180/6 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.47, RRR: 6.00)

  • Nikhil Chaudhary21 (18b)
  • Marco Jansen9 (3b)
  • Adam Milne4-0-31-2
  • Wiaan Mulder4-0-50-2
18.6
0
Milne to Chaudhary, no run, Shortish and whooshing back at middle, tries to thump a pull and gets an inside edge onto the pads, Milne runs and uses soccer skills in a bid to run him out, doesn't hit the stumps and Mukhtar was well back in the crease
18.5
1
Milne to Jansen, 1 run, Around the wicket, short ball and leg-stump, cramping him for room, fended to backward square
18.4
6
Milne to Jansen, SIX, On a length at middle, goes on with the angle and he gets right behind the line to pump it straight over is head for a six. All the way for six to cause delirium in the stands
18.3
2
Milne to Jansen, 2 runs, Comes down the track and drives the shorter ball at middle with a lot of style and class. WF are not going down without a fight
18.2
W
Milne to Pienaar, OUT, Back of a length or a touch fuller, swaying in at middle and he tries to mow it downtown, ends up getting a top-edge that has been gobbled up by Faf du Plessis at short cover; Pienaar gone, this has been the prevailing themselves of the innings, they have lost wickets in pair and that has hampered their progress

AJ Pienaar c du Plessis b Milne 18 (14m 10b 0x4 2x6) SR: 180

18.1
0
Milne to Pienaar, no run, Over the wicket, jaffa that explodes off a shorter area and doesn't allow him to run down this quick delivery at him

END OF OVER:
18 | 15 Runs | WSF: 171/5 (15 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.50, RRR: 7.50)

  • Nikhil Chaudhary21 (17b)
  • Obus Pienaar18 (8b)
  • Wiaan Mulder4-0-50-2
  • Amshi de Silva4-0-38-0
17.6
6
Mulder to Chaudhary, SIX, Hits the deck on a length just outside off, a lovely pick-up shot goes all the way over deep square for a six and everyone is shellshocked, not more than Mulder, quick snap of the wrists and timed it immaculately! Went deep in the crease and pulled it to perfection, coming inside the line and then hitting it off the meat of the bat
17.5
1
Mulder to Pienaar, 1 run, Full near yorker on middle, pushed to long-off for a single
17.4
1
Mulder to Chaudhary, 1 run, Advances down the track and forces it to deep midwicket on this shortish ball at his chest height
17.3
0
Mulder to Chaudhary, no run, Pace-off shortish ball just outside off, punches through the line to mid-off region
17.2
1
Mulder to Pienaar, 1 run, Fraction short and very tight on off, whisks it to cover-point for a run
17.1
6
Mulder to Pienaar, SIX, Smashed into the stands, a timely six for WF! Short ball at chest height, carted over deep backward square for a six! Brilliant reflexes and timing on it, only 24 off 17 needed, pressure off WF

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | WSF: 156/5 (30 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.17, RRR: 10.00)

  • Obus Pienaar10 (5b)
  • Nikhil Chaudhary14 (14b)
  • Amshi de Silva4-0-38-0
  • Wiaan Mulder3-0-35-2
16.6
1
de Silva to Pienaar, 1 run, Arrows it in from over the wicket and lands it shortish on leg-stump, helped to deep fine
16.5
6
de Silva to Pienaar, SIX, Half-volley spotted from a mile, straightens a touch at middle and he smokes it straight through the line and clears long-on with ease, 83 meters maximum!
16.4
2
de Silva to Pienaar, 2 runs, Tries some improvisation, shuffles across and lowers his gravity to play a ramp but it doesn't have enough power behind it
16.3
1
de Silva to Chaudhary, 1 run, Another full inswinging delivery into middle and leg, defended to long leg region

Washington 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st91SPD SmithMJ Owen
2nd7MS ChapmanMJ Owen
3rd22AGS GousMJ Owen
4th2AGS GousN Chaudhary
5th21Mukhtar AhmedN Chaudhary
6th28AJ PienaarN Chaudhary
7th9M JansenN Chaudhary
8th0MA AponsoN Chaudhary
9th0Asif MehmoodN Chaudhary
10th7LH FergusonN Chaudhary