Major League Cricket 2023 season is now heading into its final stages of the league phase matches. The play off stages loom large as the 6 teams give it their best to make it to the final phase of the tournament. The game on early Sunday morning saw Washington Freedom take on San Francisco Unicorns at the Morrisville at the Church Street Park Ground.
The story so far –
San Francisco Unicorns won the toss and decided to bowl first. A win for the Freedom team will take them to number 2 in the table. Meanwhile, a win for the Unicorns team will keep them in the hunt for a place in the play off places.
Glenn Phillips amazing catch to dismiss Finn Allen –
Chasing 134 to win, Finn Allen was batting on 13 off 8 balls with 3 fours to his name. That is when the Kiwi international went for a wild slog of Anrich Nortje. Allen, happened to mistime the ball as his fellow New Zealand international, Glenn Phillips, ran back and took the catch.
STUPENDOUS!🤯
— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 22, 2023
Glenn Phillips takes an ABSOLUTE STUNNER😱!
1⃣8⃣/1⃣ (2.2) pic.twitter.com/2WXQEV83OC
Haris Rauf leaves Washington struggling –
Pakistani pacer, Haris Rauf was in prime form with the ball as he had the Freedom struggling at 30/4. Rauf first dismissed Andries Gous for 23 off 16 balls with 5 fours when he was out LBW. Rauf then got Mukhtar Ahmed out for 1 and bowled Glenn Phillips out for a duck.
Chaitanya Bishnoi’s throw gets the big wicket of Matthew Short –
One of the earliest highlights of the game was the run out of Australian batter Matthew Short. Marcus Stoinis was bowling to his fellow Australian who went for a single after being wrapped on the pads. Bishnoi fielding at point was quick to swoop in and pick the ball and hit the stumps at the non strikers end to dismiss Short for 5.
Washington end their innings at 133 –
Skipper Moises Henriques was the top scorer as he scored 30 off 27 balls with 3 fours. He was supported by Pienaar who scored 29 off 28 balls with 1 four and 1 six. Marco Jansen with 19 not out and Dane Piedt with 12 not out helped Washington Freedom reach 133.
Saurabh Netrawalkar 6 wicket haul gives Freedom an easy win –
Chasing 134 to win, the Unicorns were bowled out for mere 103 as former USA skipper Saurabh Netrawalkar picked 6 wickets for 9 runs. The top scorer for the Unicorns was Corey Anderson who scored 34 off 34 balls with 4 fours and a six. Aaron Finch scored 14 off 28 balls while Bishnoi scored 13.