In a commanding performance, Steven Smith guided Washington Freedom to the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 title, securing a resounding 96-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns in Dallas. Smith, along with fellow Australian Glenn Maxwell, excelled with the bat, setting the stage for the Unicorns’ unsuccessful chase. Marco Jansen was pivotal in dismantling the Unicorns’ lineup, claiming three key wickets, including both openers.
This triumph solidified Freedom’s status as the premier team of the season. They secured five wins during the group stage and advanced directly to the final after defeating the Unicorns in the Qualifier. A crucial 83-run partnership off 39 balls between Smith and Maxwell helped Freedom amass 121 runs in the latter half of their innings.
Smith, who was excluded from Australia’s T20 World Cup squad earlier this year, overcame a slow start during the powerplay to score 88 off 52 balls, featuring six sixes. Initially struggling with 10 runs off 12 balls by the sixth over, Smith accelerated to a 34-ball fifty and finished the season as the joint second-leading run-scorer, alongside Travis Head, with 336 runs at a strike rate of 148.67.
Travis Head, who had been a standout performer with a strike rate exceeding 170 throughout the tournament, was dismissed early by Pat Cummins. Head edged to slip, where Finn Allen held onto the catch at the second attempt after Head had been granted a reprieve in the opening over. Andries Gous then provided momentum to Freedom’s innings as Smith found his rhythm. Despite Haris Rauf removing Rachin Ravindra midway through the innings, leaving the score at 86 for 3, the contest was evenly poised.
Smith and Maxwell then took control, with Maxwell regaining his form in the closing stages of the tournament. The duo added 28 runs off Juanoy Drysdale’s 13th over. Smith executed an audacious scoop for six off Rauf and was nearing a century when he top-edged Cummins. Although Maxwell was superbly caught by Josh Inglis in the following over, Freedom still managed to surpass 200 runs.
The Unicorns’ chase faltered from the outset. Jake Fraser-McGurk’s underwhelming tournament concluded with an edge into the stumps off Jansen, leaving him with just 81 runs at an average of 11.57. Sanjay Krishnamurthi and Finn Allen also fell during the powerplay, leaving the Unicorns with a steep task. Sherfane Rutherford was brilliantly caught at deep backward square by Ian Holland immediately after being dropped, and the remainder of the batting lineup collapsed under the pressure of an overwhelming required run rate.
Washington Freedom’s victory also marked a significant achievement for Ricky Ponting, who claimed a title as coach just weeks after departing from his role with the Delhi Capitals.x
