MLC 2025: Washington Freedom Snatch Last-Ball Victory Over Knight Riders in Playoff Push

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

The heroics of Glenn Phillips and Obus Pienaar steered Freedom to victory in a dramatic finish. A dropped catch by Holder at mid-on off the final delivery proved decisive, denying the Knight Riders a hard-fought win.

Earlier, the Knight Riders had set a formidable score of 213/4 in their 20 overs. Andre Fletcher, replacing Alex Hales in the lineup, smashed a brilliant century, scoring 104 runs off 60 balls, decorated with seven fours and six sixes.

Fletcher forged a dominant opening partnership with Unmukt Chand, who contributed 41 runs off 30 balls. Together, they amassed 130 runs in just 74 deliveries, laying a solid foundation for a high score.

The Knight Riders' innings maintained its momentum with 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.

Freedom's chase got off to a blazing start thanks to Mitchell Owen. Owen blasted 43 runs off just 16 balls, hitting multiple boundaries off Ali Khan and Holder, propelling the team to 73/1 in the powerplay.

In the middle overs, Glenn Maxwell (42 off 23) and Andreas Gous kept Freedom ahead of the required run rate. However, the Knight Riders fought back, with Holder and Tanveer Sangha claiming crucial wickets to put pressure on the chasing team.

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

The match went down to the wire, with Freedom needing seven runs in the final over. Russell bowled exceptionally well, but despite conceding a wide and a boundary early in the over, he took the game to the final ball.

In a dramatic conclusion, Holder was unable to hold onto a catch at mid-on off the final delivery, allowing Phillips and Pienaar to scramble the winning run. This victory propelled Freedom to second place in the standings, surpassing 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