Washington Freedom Clinch Thrilling Last-Ball Win Against Knight Riders, Bolster MLC Playoff Hopes

Washington Freedom Snatch Last-Ball Victory, Edge Closer to MLC Playoffs

Washington Freedom pulled off a stunning five-wicket win against the LA Knight Riders in Dallas, successfully chasing down a target of 214 on the very last ball. This victory significantly boosts their chances of qualifying for the MLC 2025 playoffs.

The thrilling chase was orchestrated by Glenn Phillips and Obus Pienaar, culminating in a dramatic moment where Holder dropped a crucial catch at mid-on off the final delivery, a misstep that cost the Knight Riders the game.

Earlier, the Knight Riders had set a challenging target, posting 213/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Andre Fletcher, replacing Alex Hales in the lineup, was the star of the innings, smashing 104 runs off 60 deliveries, including seven boundaries and six towering sixes.

Fletcher and Unmukt Chand formed a formidable opening partnership, adding 130 runs in just 74 balls. Chand contributed a solid 41 off 30, providing the perfect platform for a high score.

The Knight Riders' innings maintained its momentum thanks to quick contributions from Sherfane Rutherford (20 off 11), Jason Holder (11 off 6), and Andre Russell (30 not out off 13). The team managed to score 59 runs in the final five overs, with Fletcher strategically retired out with two overs remaining.

In response, Washington Freedom began their chase aggressively, led by Mitchell Owen. Owen blazed his way to 43 runs off just 16 balls, hitting multiple boundaries off Ali Khan and Holder, propelling the team to 73/1 during the powerplay.

The middle overs saw Glenn Maxwell (42 off 23) and Andreas Gous maintain a healthy run rate, keeping Freedom ahead of the required pace. However, the Knight Riders fought back, with Holder and Tanveer Sangha picking up crucial wickets to apply pressure on the batting side.

Phillips and Pienaar then joined forces, with Freedom needing 60 runs from the final six overs. The pair expertly managed the chase, taking calculated risks and keeping the required scoring rate within reach.

The match went down to the wire, with Freedom needing seven runs off the final over. Russell bowled well, despite conceding a wide and a boundary early on, bringing the game down to the last ball.

The dramatic finish saw Holder unable to hold onto a catch at mid-on off the final delivery, allowing Phillips and Pienaar to scramble the winning run. This victory lifts Freedom to second place in the standings, overtaking the Texas Super Kings.

Brief Scores:

LA Knight Riders 213/4 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 104, Unmukt Chand 41; Ian Holland 2-25) lost to Washington Freedom 214/5 in 20 overs (Mitchell Owen 43, Glenn Maxwell 42, Glenn Phillips 33*; Tanveer Sangha 2-35) by 5 wickets.