• Washington Freedom defeated San Francisco Unicorns in the final of MLC 2024.

  • Steven Smith was named Player of the Match for his splendid batting performance.

Fans erupt as Steve Smith, Rachin Ravindra guide Washington Freedom to maiden title with a win over San Francisco Unicorns in MLC 2024
Washington Freedom clinches MLC 2024 title with a win over San Francisco Unicorns (Image Source: X)

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In a thrilling finale at Grand Prairie Stadium, Washington Freedom claimed the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 title with a commanding 96-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns.

Steve Smith sizzles with the bat

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Unicorns faced a daunting challenge from a powerful Washington batting lineup. Washington Freedom set a formidable target with a total of 207 for 5 in their 20 overs. Steve Smith was the star of the innings, scoring a scintillating 88 off 52 balls, including 7 fours and 6 sixes.

His partnership with Glenn Maxwell, who blasted 40 off 22 balls with 1 four and 4 sixes, provided the backbone of the innings. Contributions from Andries Gous (21 off 14), Mukhtar Ahmed (19 off 9), and Obus Pienaar (13 off 9) further bolstered the score. Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for San Francisco, claiming 2 wickets for 35 runs, while Hassan Khan, Haris Rauf, and Juanoy Drysdale each took a wicket but proved expensive.

Rachin Ravindra wreaks havoc

Chasing 208, the San Francisco Unicorns faltered early and never recovered, bowled out for 111 in 16 overs. The Washington bowlers were relentless, with Marco Jansen and Rachin Ravindra taking 3 wickets apiece, conceding 28 and 23 runs respectively.

Andrew Tye provided crucial breakthroughs, claiming 2 wickets for just 12 runs in his 2 overs, while Maxwell also chipped in with a wicket. The Unicorns struggled to build partnerships, with only Carmi le Roux (20 off 19) and Josh Inglis (18 off 11) providing brief resistance.

Washington Freedom’s comprehensive win was a testament to their all-round performance, with significant contributions from both their batters and bowlers. This victory marks a remarkable season for Washington Freedom, crowning them the champions of MLC 2024.

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.