Texas Super Kings (TSK) faced Washington Freedom (WAF) in the fifth match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The WAF emerged victorious in the thrilling encounter by six runs.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Washington-based team put up a competitive total of 163 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Matthew Short played a scintillating knock for WAF, scoring 80 runs off just 50 deliveries supported by ten fours and three sixes. Short’s impressive innings set the tone for the WAF’s batting performance. On the other hand, the TSK’s bowlers successfully contained the opposition, with Gerald Coetzee and Mitchell Santner claiming two and one wickets, respectively. Dwayne Bravo chipped in with one scalp as well.
In reply, the Texas-based side fell short of the target by six runs, finishing their innings at 157 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. The Super Kings’ top-order batters struggled to find their rhythm, with Faf du Plessis (14) and Devon Conway (0) departing early. Bravo played a sensational innings, single-handedly keeping the TSK alive in the hunt with his blistering knock of 76 from just 39 deliveries, including five fours and six maximums. Among those six maximums smashed by Bravo, one travelled a distance of 106 metres and became the tournament’s biggest six so far.
It all happened on the second ball of the 18th over when Anrich Nortje delivered a shortish delivery to Bravo, and the TSK batter backed away to hammer it with full power for a humongous six. The crowd and the TSK teammates were seen applauding the right-handed batter after the gigantic hit.
Here’s the video:
TO THE MOON🌕!
Dwayne Bravo with the BIGGEST SIX of the tournament!
1⃣1⃣5⃣/6⃣(17.2) pic.twitter.com/xDyWKy25nL
— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 17, 2023
Coming back to the match, despite Bravo’s heroic efforts, TSK failed to secure a victory. Among the bowlers, Marco Jansen and Akeal Hosein stood out for the WAF and picked two wickets each.
