Washington Freedom Secures Thrilling Victory Over San Francisco Unicorns in MLC 2025

Match Overview

In a gripping encounter at Grand Prairie Stadium, Washington Freedom showcased their resilience and sharp bowling skills to clinch a narrow 12-run victory against the San Francisco Unicorns during Match 19 of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025. The match intensified the competition in what is proving to be a closely fought tournament as Washington Freedom successfully defended their total of 169.

Batting Performance

After winning the toss, Washington Freedom opted to bat first, a decision that initially seemed precarious as they lost early wickets. Opener Mitchell Owen was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball, followed by Rachin Ravindra (9 runs off 9 balls) and Andries Gous (1 run off 2 balls). However, Glenn Phillips and Jack Edwards steadied the innings, with Edwards anchoring the team with a composed 42 runs from 42 balls, featuring just one four and two sixes.

Glenn Phillips then took charge, scoring an impressive 58 runs off 39 balls, which included two fours and three sixes, showcasing his powerful hitting. Towards the end of the innings, Obus Pienaar injected energy into the innings with a rapid 30 runs from just 12 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Mukhtar Ahmed also contributed with a brisk 17 runs off 9 balls, helping Washington Freedom finish with a competitive total of 169 for 6. The Unicorns' bowlers, particularly Xavier Bartlett, who took 4 wickets for 32 runs in his four overs, worked hard but struggled to contain the runs.

Unicorns' Chase

In their pursuit of 170 runs, the San Francisco Unicorns were initially shaken by the early dismissals of Finn Allen (7 runs) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (3 runs). However, opener Matthew Short launched a fierce counter-attack, scoring a remarkable 67 runs off just 40 balls, which included four fours and six sixes, keeping his team in contention. Sanjay Krishnamurthy provided some stability with 24 runs off 21 balls, while Jahmar Hamilton added a quick 31 runs off 18 balls, featuring three fours and a six.

Decisive Bowling

Washington Freedom's fortunes changed dramatically thanks to Mitchell Owen's outstanding bowling performance. Despite his earlier golden duck, Owen redeemed himself with a match-winning spell, claiming 5 wickets for only 17 runs in 3 overs, including the crucial wicket of Matthew Short, which significantly hampered the Unicorns' chase. The pressure from Amila Aponso (1 wicket for 23 runs), Jack Edwards (1 wicket for 22 runs), Rachin Ravindra (1 wicket for 27 runs), and Ian Holland (1 wicket for 23 runs) ensured that the Unicorns could never regain their momentum. Ultimately, the San Francisco Unicorns concluded their innings at 157 for 9, falling short by 12 runs in a thrilling contest.