25/07Result
Qualifier (N), Major League Cricket at Dallas, Jul 25 2024
Washington won by 7 wkts (27b rem)
Player of the Match
Travis Head
Travis HeadWashington Freedom
25/07Result
Qualifier (N), Major League Cricket at Dallas, Jul 25 2024
Washington won by 7 wkts (27b rem)
Player of the Match
Travis Head
Travis HeadWashington Freedom

9:12pm Hassan Khan. That is who this innings was about. He walked in when the Unicorns were staring down the barrel, much like they were against MI New York. Hassan bided his time initially and then began opening up his shoulders, hitting as many as six massive sixes. There was an important cameo by Anderson too, although the Unicorns skipper will be gutted he could not carry on and be there at the death.

Washington, on the other hand, will be largely pleased with their effort. Apart from a few overs, where they came in for punishment, they held their own. Jansen and Netravalkar got the show on the road inside the powerplay. Maxwell and Ravindra then bowled tidily through the middle phases with the latter also filling in expertly when Ferguson tweaked his hamstring in the 18th over, ultimately finishing with a four-for.

This is a total Washington, given their firepower, will be confident of chasing but Hassan's knock has ensured the Unicorns have something to bowl at too. An intriguing second innings awaits, and we will be back with it very shortly.

Hassan Khan: I just enjoyed (my innings), I kept batting and that is what I enjoyed the most. It is a pretty good surface to bat on. Little tricky at the moment, but if you can get set, it is easy to get some runs out there. I just like to keep it simple: play the ball accordingly.

19.1
W
Ravindra to Hassan Khan, 1 wide, OUT, clever, clever bowling and keeping! Darts it wide outside off on a length, perhaps pre-empting that Hassan will give the charge. Plays out exactly in that fashion. Hassan advances, swishes at it but is just too far away from the ball. Gous knows this is coming and gathers to whip off the bails. Hassan cannot get back in time, and the Unicorns are bowled out for 145!

Hassan Khan st †Gous b Ravindra 57 (36b 0x4 6x6) SR: 158.33

Ravindra to bowl the final over

END OF OVER:
19 | 9 Runs | SF: 144/9 | RR: 7.57

  • Hassan Khan57 (36b)
  • Juanoy Drysdale1 (4b)
  • Saurabh Netravalkar4-0-23-2
  • Rachin Ravindra2.4-1-10-3
18.6
1
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, 1 run, half-tracker on leg stump. Hassan waits for it and helps it towards square leg to retain strike

Hassan will most likely look for the single now

18.5
6
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, SIX, into the Texas night sky! Slot ball outside off, and Hassan pounces. Goes deep into his crease, gets under it and mousses it over long on! A 102m six!

One ball effectively to find the fence and then look for the single for Hassan

18.4
1
Netravalkar to Drysdale, 1 run, back of a length just outside off. Drysdale chops it towards sweeper cover and gets Hassan back on strike

This is probably why it would have been wiser for Hassan to deny the single. Two dots since

18.3
0
Netravalkar to Drysdale, no run, fullish just outside off. Drysdale comes half forward and jabs it towards extra cover
18.2
0
Netravalkar to Drysdale, no run, back of a length outside off. Drysdale wafts at it with minimal footwork and is beaten
18.1
1
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, 1 run, full outside off. Hassan comes forward and drives it towards sweeper cover. Takes the single and gets to his fifty. Should he have denied the single, though?

Netravalkar to bowl the penultimate over. How many can the Unicorns get from here?

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 2 Wkts | SF: 135/9 | RR: 7.50

  • Juanoy Drysdale0 (1b)
  • Hassan Khan49 (33b)
  • Rachin Ravindra2.4-1-10-3
  • Saurabh Netravalkar3-0-14-2
17.6
0
Ravindra to Drysdale, no run, angled in on a back of a length just outside off. Drysdale dangles his bat and chunks it off the inside edge into his pads

Drysdale is the last man in. Slip in place

17.5
W
Ravindra to le Roux, OUT, knocks him over! Fizzed through on a length on middle and off. le Roux, for some reason, seems to be shaping up to leave it. In the end, he has a hurried stab as he realises the ball is destined for the stumps. By then, though, it is too late. Whizzes past the bat and smashes into the stumps. Unicorns nine down now, with Hassan still stranded at the other end!

C le Roux b Ravindra 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

17.4
0
Ravindra to le Roux, no run, length on off. le Roux comes forward and defends

le Roux joins Hassan

17.3
W
Ravindra to Haris Rauf, OUT, Rauf perishes! Floated up just outside off and Rauf gives in to the temptation. Heaves across the line, trying to hit it over the longer deep mid wicket boundary. Does not generate the requisite power and picks out Maxwell to absolute perfection. Not the smartest choice of shot, given the situation, it must be said

Haris Rauf c Maxwell b Ravindra 2 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Ferguson pulls up mid-way in his run-up, and it looks like it is his hamstring. Throws the ball over to the umpire straightaway and walks off. Not what Washington needed. Ravindra to complete the over. Four balls left

17.2
2
Ferguson to Haris Rauf, 2 runs, back of a length on leg stump. Rauf flicks it uppishly past mid wicket. He seems intent on the second too but has to rush back. Stretches out every sinew of his body and just makes it
17.1
1
Ferguson to Hassan Khan, 1 run, short ball on the hips. Hassan gets inside the line and swivel-pulls it on the bounce to fine leg

END OF OVER:
17 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SF: 132/7 | RR: 7.76

  • Haris Rauf0 (1b)
  • Hassan Khan48 (32b)
  • Saurabh Netravalkar3-0-14-2
  • Marco Jansen4-0-46-3
16.6
0
Netravalkar to Haris Rauf, no run, length on middle and off. Rauf gets forward and blocks

Rauf in at 9

16.5
W
Netravalkar to Cummins, OUT, goes straight up, and taken! Hard length on middle and leg. Cummins has a mow across the line but does not quite get on top of it. Skews it a mile up and Pienaar, stationed in the deep mid wicket region, holds his nerve and the catch. All on Hassan now!

PJ Cummins c Pienaar b Netravalkar 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

16.4
1
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, 1 run, very full on middle and off. Hassan pokes it down the ground to long on
16.3
1
Netravalkar to Cummins, 1 run, back of a length on off. Cummins presses half forward and jabs it towards deep point

Cummins on strike now

16.2
1
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, 1 run, slower bumper outside off. Hassan waits for it and pulls it towards deep square leg
16.1
2
Netravalkar to Hassan Khan, 2 runs, length ball on the pads. Hassan places it perfectly between deep mid wicket and deep square leg and canters back for two

Here's Netravalkar

END OF OVER:
16 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | SF: 127/6 | RR: 7.93

  • Hassan Khan44 (29b)
  • Marco Jansen4-0-46-3
  • Lockie Ferguson3-0-21-1
15.6
W
Jansen to Anderson, OUT, taken this time! Shortish on middle and leg. Anderson, wanting to make the most of this over, swings at this too. Gets a good chunk of it but does not get the elevation he is after. Hits it hard and flat but straight to Pienaar on the deep backward square leg fence!

CJ Anderson c Pienaar b Jansen 26 (19b 1x4 2x6) SR: 136.84

15.5
0
Jansen to Anderson, no run, into the blockhole on leg stump. Anderson plays all over it and the ball pings off his back boot towards backward point
15.4
2
Jansen to Anderson, 2 runs, dug into the track outside off. Anderson drags it towards deep square leg, who misfields and ensures the second run is completed without hassle

Adam: "That is a huge mistake from Ferguson.. could be a difference of 30-40 runs to the SF total the end. "

Major League Cricket News

Washington 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st2SPD SmithTM Head
2nd51AGS GousTM Head
3rd11TM HeadR Ravindra
4th85GJ MaxwellTM Head