MORRISVILLE: Washington Freedom kicked off their Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 campaign with a victory over defending champions MI New York in a rain-hit clash here on Saturday.
Washington Freedom were five runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score in 7.4 overs before rain interrupted the game while chasing 155. The heavy rain did not allow any more play, therefore, they won by five runs.
MI New York drew first blood as Ehsan Adil dismissed Travis Head (1) in the maiden second over. Steve Smith was joined by Andries Gous and attacked Adil in the next over, scoring 14 runs.
Smith then struck Anrich Nortje for 21 runs with two boundaries and two sixes to push the team’s total to 43-1 in six overs.
Gous played a supporting role to Smith until the rain stopped the play with the scoreboard reading 55-1 in 7.4 overs.
Smith scored an unbeaten 46 off 28 with the help of four boundaries and three sixes, while Gous scored 5 runs from 11 balls.
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The persistent rain did not allow the game to be resumed, resulting in Washing Freedom’s victory in their first match in the MLC 2024.
Freedoms’ captain Steve Smith invited MI New York to bat first after winning the toss and the decision proved right as the batting side was reduced to 28-2 in five overs.
Ruben Clinton scored a cautious 28 off 22 before Glenn Maxwell ended his brief stay on the crease.
Nicholas Pooran top-scored for MI New York with a 30-ball 44, which featured five boundaries and one six. He fell prey to Lockie Ferguson in the 16th over with 104 runs on the board.
Rashid Khan played a 15-ball cameo, scoring 31 runs while Anrich Nortje scored 14 off nine, but they both fell in the last over by Saurabh Netravalkar.
MI New York managed to score 154-9 in their allocated 20 overs, with Nosthush Kenjige (5) and Ehsan Adil (1) staying unbeaten.
Netravalkar and Justin Dill topped the wicket-takers chart with three wickets each.
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