Washington Freedom extended their sensational run in the Major League Cricket 2025 season by securing their fifth consecutive win with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in Dallas.
Despite Andre Fletcher’s explosive century for LAKR, Washington held their nerve in a high-scoring encounter that went down to the final ball, moving them up to second place on the points table.
Batting first, LAKR got off to a dream start as openers Andre Fletcher and Unmukt Chand took full advantage of the powerplay, scoring 67/0 in the first six overs. Fletcher was in ominous touch from the beginning, hammering boundaries off Saurabh Netravalkar and raising his half-century off just 28 balls.
The pair put on a massive 130-run stand before Chand was dismissed for a well-made 41 off 30 balls. Fletcher went on to score a brilliant 104 off 60 balls, retiring out after reaching his hundred in the 18th over. A late blitz by Andre Russell, who scored 30 off just 13 balls, powered LAKR to a formidable 213/4.
Chasing 214, Mitchell Owen gave Washington the perfect start with a fiery knock of 43 off just 16 balls, attacking both Ali Khan and Jason Holder in the powerplay. Washington crossed 50 in just four overs but soon lost Owen. Glenn Maxwell then steadied the innings and turned the tide with a powerful assault on Andre Russell in the 13th over, where he smashed two sixes and a four. However, his innings ended at 42 off 23 balls when Tanveer Sangha bowled him in the next over.
With 60 runs needed from the final six overs, the chase looked tense, but Glenn Phillips and Obus Pienaar showed great composure under pressure. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 60-run stand for the sixth wicket, keeping the scoreboard ticking and taking the match to the very last ball. Phillips remained unbeaten on 33 while Pienaar contributed a crucial 23, keeping Washington’s hopes alive in a nail-biting finish.
Andre Fletcher’s maximum was effortless, smashing the ball a whopping 338ft (103m). He and SFU’s Jake Fraser-McGurk now hold the #1 spot for longest six of the 2025 MLC season. ☄️#NTTSixDistanceTracker | @NTTData pic.twitter.com/XPVJ74MTZw
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 27, 2025
The match could have gone LAKR’s way if not for a missed opportunity on the final delivery. Skipper Jason Holder dropped a catch at mid-on off the last ball, allowing WSF to sneak a run and seal the victory.
The dramatic finish left LAKR heartbroken, while Washington celebrated yet another tight win. Their unbeaten streak now stands at five, as they continue to look like serious contenders for the MLC 2025 title.