Washington Freedom continued their dominant run in the Major League Cricket 2025 season by clinching their fifth consecutive win with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday. The match went down to the wire and was decided on the final ball, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats throughout.
Batting first, LAKR put up an imposing total of 213/4, powered by a stunning century from opener Andre Fletcher. He hammered 104 runs off 60 balls, smashing six sixes and seven fours, setting the tone for a high-scoring game.
Washington Freedom’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, though Ian Holland stood out with an economical spell of 2/25. Despite the big target, Washington showed resilience in the chase.
In response, Washington Freedom started strong but faced a few stumbles along the way. Mitchell Owen played a blistering knock, scoring 43 off just 16 balls, while captain Glenn Maxwell provided stability with a 42-run innings off 23 balls.
The equation eventually boiled down to seven runs required off the final over. Andre Russell began the over with a wide and a boundary, reducing the pressure, but the drama wasn’t over yet.
With one run needed off the final ball, Glenn Phillips attempted a powerful shot over mid-on where Jason Holder was positioned. Holder timed his jump perfectly and managed to get both hands to the ball but couldn’t complete the catch. The ball popped up and slipped again on the second attempt, allowing the batters to sneak in the winning run. It was a heart-breaking miss that could have changed the outcome.
You can't ask for a better ending ‼️ Tied at the over's end, the fate of this game hung in the balance on just ONE ball! ⚔️🏏🦅 pic.twitter.com/4nwigzfh8X
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 27, 2025
The missed opportunity left LAKR shattered. Andre Russell collapsed to the ground in disbelief as teammates tried to lift his spirits, while Holder walked off shaking his head despite being consoled by his teammates.
On the other side, joy erupted in the Washington camp. Head coach Ricky Ponting let out a sigh of relief, and Rachin Ravindra was seen in shock, hands on his face, trying to process the last-ball finish. The win solidified Washington Freedom’s top form in the tournament.