11:25pm That will be all from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage and be sure to join us tomorrow for more MLC action. Until next time, this is goodbye from Chandan, me and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Jasdeep Singh, Player of the Match: Emotions are pretty high right now. Just here, expressing myself and enjoying myself. We have a gem of a support staff. Smudge (Smith) and Lockie are a great help and keep helping my out. Trying to keep it simple, follow the plan and execute it. The wicket was two-paced. I just wanted to do what I did in the first game. The idea was to bowl to the bigger side if someone was going well. If you keep mixing it up, it is pretty helpful. The over Lockie bowled before me, I was at third man and I was watching. Faf was struggling (trying to hit to the bigger side) and I thought of doing the same thing. Smudge made it very clear (on what to do) and that sort of clarity helps.

Steve Smith, Washington Freedom captain: We are just getting better and better as the tournament has gone on. Travis has been unbelievable getting us to starts on some slow wickets. Bowlers have done a good job defending. Spinners were really good, Jasdeep was really good. Ferguson has been magnificent, Marco too. (On what has been the secret to their success) We are just training really hard and are training in positions they (the players) are likely to come in. Good vibes around the group and we have locked away the top two and that is exciting. Looking forward to the rest (of the games). (On Jasdeep Singh) He has exceeded expectations, he has been magnificent. Stuck to his plans nicely, executed what I wanted him to executed. Took them (batters) to the bigger side and did that beautifully.

Faf du Plessis, Texas Super Kings captain: (On where they lost it) What they have done really well in the powerplay is put you under pressure. Travis Head has been doing that often this season, so it was about getting him out somehow. They were looking good for 220 at one stage. First six-seven overs (in the run chase), we were in control. Then for a little period, it felt it got a little slower, and then a cluster of wickets (in a 200 chase does not help). Up until a point, we played it really well. (On the bowling attack) Resources wise, we don't have guys who can bowl 140-145, so it is about finding ways. Maxi (Maxwell) is a good player of spin but someone like Noor is as good a bowler as any at a batter. (On the middle order not firing) You are one innings away from feeling that confidence. Luckily for us, we have gone well, still sitting pretty in the competition. You can almost just let it flow and hopefully we can play really well (in our last game). (On his batting and what has been key) Rhythm. Sometimes while batting, rhythm is a fight. When you are feeling well, you just have to cash in. I want to treat that with respect, keep doing the hard work and hopefully the form can continue.

Travis Head: (On his batting approach) I just watch the ball hard and try to react to it. Bit of momentum from the last few games. When you are feeling good, you don't want to waste it. Maximising the powerplay - that is sort of my job for the team. We felt it (the pitch) was going to take spin later, so it was about scoring as many in the powerplay as possible. It was a good wicket, probably on the slower side. (On how they can keep the momentum going) Staying relaxed, have been doing it for a couple of months in a row. Couple of days off, try to mentally relax and then go at it again.

11:01pm A fairly comfortable win in the end for Washington Freedom. That was not always the case, though. TSK ransacked 76 runs in the powerplay, turbocharged by their skipper du Plessis. He lost rhythm post the powerplay, however, and that sort of personified the Super Kings' problems, who also lost steam once the field spread out. There was a cameo towards the end by Savage but that merely reduced the margin of defeat, rather than acting as a catalyst for a turnaround.

Washington, on the other hand, held their nerve brilliantly. They were put under the cosh early but found a way to tie down the batters, often using the dimensions to their advantage. Ravindra was brilliant in the middle overs. Jasdeep was spectacular throughout, and Maxwell continued his happy knack of taking wickets. Ferguson did not pick a wicket tonight but rarely offered up any freebies, which meant the pressure was never released and ultimately led to a convincing victory.

19.5
W
Ravindra to Savage, OUT, big appeal, and given! Savage reviews, though! Slanted in on a length on middle and leg. Savage looks for the reverse and the ball seems to come off the glove. The umpire does not think so, though, and raises his finger. Well, what do we know! The ball has missed the glove and smashes Savage flush on the back leg. Ball Tracking has it thundering into leg stump, and that will be that for the Texas Super Kings tonight. They are now left looking over their shoulder nervously; Washington, meanwhile, are now assured a spot in the top two!

CP Savage lbw b Ravindra 35 (23b 2x4 3x6) SR: 152.17

19.4
1
Ravindra to Zia-ul-Haq, 1 run, floated up full on leg stump. Zia advances and razes it down the ground to long off

Zia is the last batter in

19.3
W
Ravindra to Noor Ahmad, OUT, Ravindra has another! Pushed in on a length, on middle and leg. Noor continues swinging because, well, why not. Shanks it completely and Maxwell, running in from deep mid wicket, makes no mistake. Texas Super Kings nine down now, and on the brink of just their second defeat this season!

Noor Ahmad c Maxwell b Ravindra 1 (5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00

19.2
0
Ravindra to Noor Ahmad, no run, even slower outside off. Noor has another wild hoick at it and the bat ends up in a different postcode to the ball
19.1
0
Ravindra to Noor Ahmad, no run, tossed up on a length on off. Noor has a massive mow across the line and only grabs a handful of fresh air. Was not far away from off stump either

Six legal balls and Washington Freedom will seal a top-two berth. Ravindra to bowl

END OF OVER:
19 | 2 Runs | TSK: 163/8 (44 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.57, RRR: 44.00)

  • Calvin Savage35 (22b)
  • Noor Ahmad1 (2b)
  • Lockie Ferguson4-0-25-0
  • Glenn Maxwell4-0-42-3
18.6
0
Ferguson to Savage, no run, dug into the track outside off. Savage is too early into his swipe and toe-ends it into the off side
18.5
0
Ferguson to Savage, no run, off-pace on a back of a length just outside off. Savage swings like a rusty gate and misses
18.4
0
Ferguson to Savage, no run, back of a length delivery well outside off. Savage flashes hard at it but is beaten for pace
18.3
1
Ferguson to Noor Ahmad, 1 run, slower ball on a full length outside off. Noor gives it all he has and manages to clear mid off. Not enough sauce on the shot to take it past the fence or over it, though. Mopped up by long on
18.2
1
Ferguson to Savage, 1 run, similar length outside off. Savage accesses the region behind point and picks up a single to deep backward point
18.1
0
Ferguson to Savage, no run, hard length outside off. Rushes onto Savage and he scuffs it towards extra cover

Ferguson to bowl the penultimate over. 46 needed off 12. TSK might want to reduce the margin of defeat for NRR purposes

END OF OVER:
18 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | TSK: 161/8 (46 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.94, RRR: 23.00)

  • Noor Ahmad0 (1b)
  • Calvin Savage34 (17b)
  • Glenn Maxwell4-0-42-3
  • Lockie Ferguson3-0-23-0
17.6
0
Maxwell to Noor Ahmad, no run, back of a length, honing into off stump. Noor seems to play all over it and the ball pings off his body into the off side

Noor joins Savage

17.5
W
Maxwell to Mohammad Mohsin, OUT, Gous is confident, and Mohsin might have been stumped here! Arm-ball on a length on leg stump. Comes back into Mohsin and beats him on the inside as he tries to tonk it into tomorrow. Fresh-air shot and his back foot slides out of his crease too. Gous is aware of it and whisks off the bails, with no part of Mohsin's back foot grounded behind the line!

Mohammad Mohsin st †Gous b Maxwell 8 (7b 0x4 1x6) SR: 114.28

17.4
0
Maxwell to Mohammad Mohsin, no run, quicker, flatter and shorter on middle and leg. Mohsin has another swing at it but misses on this occasion
17.3
6
Maxwell to Mohammad Mohsin, SIX, this is going to bring rain! Angled in on a length on leg stump. Mohsin uses the angle from around the wicket and smokes it high and long over deep square leg!
17.2
1
Maxwell to Savage, 1 run, shortish outside off. Savage sits back in his crease and powers it on the bounce to long off
17.1
4
Maxwell to Savage, FOUR, shot! Full on leg stump. Savage brings out the reverse sweep and thumps it between backward point and short third!

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | TSK: 150/7 (57 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.82, RRR: 19.00)

  • Calvin Savage29 (15b)
  • Mohammad Mohsin2 (4b)
  • Lockie Ferguson3-0-23-0
  • Glenn Maxwell3-0-31-2
16.6
1
Ferguson to Savage, 1 run, short and wide outside off. Savage gets on top of the bounce and cuts it towards deep point
16.5
6
Ferguson to Savage, SIX, clears the fence! Half-tracker on off and this gets the treatment it deserves. Savage opens up his front hip and whacks it over the deep square leg fence!
16.4
0
Ferguson to Savage, no run, off-pace on a length wide outside off. Savage swings for the hills but misses the ball by a significant margin
16.3
1
Ferguson to Mohammad Mohsin, 1 run, banged into the track on middle and leg. Mohsin backs away and swipes it towards deep backward square leg
16.2
0
Ferguson to Mohammad Mohsin, no run, back of a length on off. Mohsin gets up on his toes and defends

Around the wicket now

16.1
0
Ferguson to Mohammad Mohsin, no run, back of a length outside off. Skids on and keeps low, going under Mohsin's bat

END OF OVER:
16 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | TSK: 142/7 (65 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.87, RRR: 16.25)

  • Mohammad Mohsin1 (1b)
  • Calvin Savage22 (12b)
  • Glenn Maxwell3-0-31-2
  • Jasdeep Singh4-0-25-3
15.6
1
Maxwell to Mohammad Mohsin, 1 run, massive appeal by Maxwell, not given! Angled in on a back of a length on middle and off. Mohsin tries to cut it off the stumps and seems to succeed. Maxwell, though, thinks the ball might have brushed the pad first and convinces Smith to review. Straight off the bat, and Washington do not get any joy with their review this time!

Mohsin is the new batter in. Maxwell goes around the wicket

15.5
W
Maxwell to Bravo, OUT, stumped by a mile! Fizzed in on a length just outside off. Bravo advances, possibly looking to bunt it into the on side. Does not account for the spin, though, and the ball turns just enough to go past the inside edge. Gous eventually takes off the bails, with Bravo stranded well outside his crease. Washington keep chipping away and keep pushing TSK closer to defeat!

DJ Bravo st †Gous b Maxwell 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Major League Cricket News

Texas 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st37F du PlessisDP Conway
2nd53F du PlessisAM Hardie
3rd6F du PlessisJ Tromp
4th2F du PlessisMP Stoinis
5th7MP StoinisMilind Kumar
6th27MP StoinisCP Savage
7th9DJ BravoCP Savage
8th20CP SavageMohammad Mohsin
9th2CP SavageNoor Ahmad
10th1Zia-ul-HaqCP Savage