- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR5.6 Lobbed up on a fuller length and the ball sneaks through his defence, he has the last laugh but he is not too chuffed about it, taken for plenty but this time the arm-ball does the trick, hits the bottom of the middle-stump as Owen loaded up for another hit down the ground, beaten by the guile, drift and speed of the delivery, well-done Hassan for sticking to his guns and pitching it up, subtle change of pace induces an error. Brilliant innings though and a massive powerplay for WF 83/16.5 Oh, that's an exceptional bouncer on an irksome off-stump, he tries to plonk a pull on this steepler and gets a thin outside edge which has been snaffled by Pretorius, sharp catch as he dives to his right, full-length dive, plucks it out of thin air, important breakthrough, a timely one as they need to put some brakes on the scoring rate 87/211.1 Phenomenal catch by Hardie! Snaffled that and then tossed the ball in the air before going outside the field of play and then came back to complete the catch, Ravindra whacks it in the air towards long-on but didn't get all of it, not much height and he has to go! 143/319.1 Shortish but not that short, irksome off-stump line and some movement in the air as well, thumped down the ground and almost cleared the rope, Hardie hangs onto it brilliantly at long-off with minimal fuss, crucial breakthrough 225/513.5 Shorter in length and tight at off, not that pacy once again, Maxwell changes his stance and tries a switch hit, tries to pull it over third man but ends up finding Haris Rauf to perfection! Got a promising start but couldn't build on it; this was his day to shine, will be gutted to miss out on a fabulous opportunity to score big and create a big impact. Still plenty of firepower left in WF's batting. Nikhil has been in stellar touch 166/419.6 Rams a wide yorker outside off, slams it in the air but couldn't get it pas the man stationed at deep extra cover; not a bad shot but difficult to generate power from that angle, near yorker length and he has bowled well. 238/6Extras8 (lb 4, w 4)TOTAL238/6 (20 Overs, RR: 11.9)Fall of wickets: 1-83 (Mitchell Owen, 5.6 ov), 2-87 (Steven Smith, 6.5 ov), 3-143 (Rachin Ravindra, 11.1 ov), 4-166 (Glenn Maxwell, 13.5 ov), 5-225 (Andries Gous, 19.1 ov), 6-238 (Ben Dwarshuis, 19.6 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB XC Bartlett 4 0 36 3 9 9 1 3 1 0 BL Couch 4 0 52 0 13 7 5 4 0 0 Ghulam Mudassar 4 0 32 2 8 8 3 1 1 0 Haris Rauf 4 0 52 0 13 7 6 3 1 0 Hassan Khan 3 0 50 1 16.66 2 1 6 1 0 MW Short 1 0 12 0 12 2 1 1 0 0
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR1.5 Slower on a length and outside off, came back in a shade and the slow ball does the trick, shuffles across a touch and tries to biff it down the ground, sent miles in the air and went early into the shot and got the bottom of the bat, Pienaar gobbles the skier at mid-on, charging in from deep, huge wicket goes without saying! 20/14.5 Never seen Netravalkar that animated, he absolutely loved that! Plan working to perfection! Another slower one on a shorter length and it gyrates across off, he slashes it straight to Smith at mid-off and he has to go! Massive wicket, SFU needed their main man to play a big knock in this steep chase 46/28.1 Around the wicket, that's a screamer from Nikhil Chaudhary at deep midwicket! Sprinted in from deep and then swooped like a falling star, pouching it with full extension of arms. Was a slower shorter ball at middle and off, got it to deviate a touch, slammed in the air but not enough oomph behind 102/39.4 That looks plumb and given out straightaway! A length ball drifting, ripping, gripping shaking into his pads as he looked to slog sweeps it but has missed it and it has rapped him just above the thigh. Sent upstairs. No spike on the ultra-edge. Moving further, pitching outside off, impact is umpire's call and hits the off-stump so the on-field decision stands 109/413.3 Hassan Khan's brief camoo and onslaught comes to an end. Delicious legspin on a length outside off, he tries to asset his authority and tries to clobber it down the ground, Smith at long-on takes a few steps in make it look so easy 144/514.5 Pace-on shorter ball at off, sizes it up and punches into the beautiful night-sky, hasn't given all of it and finds Nikhil who takes a simple regulation catch. Wickets continue to tumble as the asking rate creeps up exponentially 158/6Extras9 (lb 1, nb 2, w 6)TOTAL231/6 (20 Overs, RR: 11.55)Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 1.5 ov), 2-46 (Finn Allen, 4.5 ov), 3-102 (Sanjay Krishnamurthi, 8.1 ov), 4-109 (Aaron Hardie, 9.4 ov), 5-144 (Hassan Khan, 13.3 ov), 6-158 (Hammad Azam, 14.5 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB SN Netravalkar 4 0 35 1 8.75 7 1 2 3 0 BJ Dwarshuis 4 0 44 2 11 9 4 3 1 0 Asif Mehmood 1 0 15 0 15 0 3 0 0 0 MJ Owen 4 0 57 1 14.25 6 3 5 0 2 IG Holland 2 0 20 0 10 3 0 2 0 0 R Ravindra 2 0 27 1 13.5 3 1 3 0 0 N Chaudhary 3 0 32 1 10.66 5 2 2 2 0
Match Details
Toss
San Francisco Unicorns , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Washington Freedom advanced
Season
Hours of play (local time)
18.30 start, First Session 18.30-20.00, Interval 20.00-20.20, Second Session 20.20-21.50
Match days
16 July 2026 - night match (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Match Notes
- Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 83 runs, 1 wicket)
- Washington Freedom: 50 runs in 4.5 overs (29 balls), Extras 1
- 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 29 balls (MJ Owen 18, SPD Smith 34, Ex 1)
- Washington Freedom: 100 runs in 7.5 overs (47 balls), Extras 1
- Drinks: Washington Freedom - 127/2 in 10.0 overs (R Ravindra 20, AGS Gous 20)
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 22 balls (R Ravindra 25, AGS Gous 27, Ex 1)
- Washington Freedom: 150 runs in 11.6 overs (72 balls), Extras 2
- Over 15.4: Review by San Francisco Unicorns (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - LS Reifer, Batter - AGS Gous (Struck down)
- AGS Gous: 50 off 28 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6)
- Washington Freedom: 200 runs in 17.6 overs (108 balls), Extras 6
- 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 29 balls (AGS Gous 35, N Chaudhary 13, Ex 3)
- Innings Break: Washington Freedom - 238/6 in 20.0 overs (N Chaudhary 20)
- Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 74 runs, 2 wickets)
- San Francisco Unicorns: 50 runs in 5.2 overs (32 balls), Extras 3
- 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 18 balls (MW Short 38, SP Krishnamurthi 10, Ex 2)
- San Francisco Unicorns: 100 runs in 7.6 overs (50 balls), Extras 5
- MW Short: 50 off 25 balls (3 x 4, 6 x 6)
- Drinks: San Francisco Unicorns - 109/4 in 9.4 overs (MW Short 59)
- Over 9.4: Review by San Francisco Unicorns (Batting), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - LS Reifer, Batter - AM Hardie (Struck down - Umpires Call)
- San Francisco Unicorns: 150 runs in 13.5 overs (85 balls), Extras 6
- MW Short: 100 off 46 balls (10 x 4, 7 x 6)
- San Francisco Unicorns: 200 runs in 17.3 overs (107 balls), Extras 9
- 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 17 balls (MW Short 25, XC Bartlett 24, Ex 1)
Match Coverage
All Match NewsShort's 121* not enough as Washington Freedom make third straight MLC final
San Francisco Unicorns came close to overcoming the stiff 239 target but fell short



