By Dwayne Ferreira.
Mitchell Owen struck an MLC-record 155 before Washington Freedom survived Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten century to defeat MI New York by 30 runs.
Mitchell Owen smashed a Major League Cricket-record 155 before Washington Freedom survived Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten century to defeat MI New York by 30 runs at Grand Prairie Stadium. Washington posted 245 for five, the largest total of the opening weekend, before limiting the defending champions to 215 for six despite Pollard reaching 100 from the final ball.
MI New York won the toss and chose to bowl, but Owen rapidly turned the decision against them. He attacked Trent Boult and the rest of the defending champions’ pace attack while Steve Smith supplied support during a 134-run opening partnership.
Washington reached 77 without loss in the powerplay. Owen passed fifty in only 20 deliveries and continued to accelerate, repeatedly clearing both the straight and leg-side boundaries.
Smith made 27 from 21 balls before Corbin Bosch dismissed him in the 10th over. His departure did little to slow Washington because Mark Chapman immediately joined Owen in an 82-run partnership from 35 deliveries.
Chapman struck three fours and a six in a 12-ball 23. Owen, meanwhile, progressed to three figures and then launched another sustained assault during the closing overs. His innings eventually ended at 155 from 68 balls, containing 11 fours and 13 sixes.
Owen’s dismissal left Washington 216 for two after 15.2 overs. MI New York found four wickets during the final five overs, but Glenn Maxwell and the lower middle order still carried the total to 245 for five.
Boult, Bosch, Romario Shepherd, Eshan Ugarkar and Corey Anderson took one wicket each, although only Anderson conceded fewer than nine runs per over. Owen’s innings set a new individual scoring record in MLC and gave Washington a target that required more than 12 runs per over from the beginning.
MI New York’s chase suffered immediate damage. Monank Patel was dismissed for five from the fifth ball, Quinton de Kock was run out for one from the next delivery and Nicholas Pooran fell for 11 in the third over.
Tajinder Singh Dhillon’s dismissal left MI New York 56 for four at the end of the powerplay. Corey Anderson then fell for 11, reducing the defending champions to 64 for five and making even a respectable recovery appear difficult.
Pollard and Shepherd refused to surrender the chase. Shepherd struck one four and two sixes in a 20-ball 26 as the pair added 70 from 40 deliveries. By the time Maxwell removed Shepherd, however, MI New York still required 112 from 34 balls.
Bosch joined Pollard and produced a fearless unbeaten 35 from 14 deliveries, including two fours and three sixes. Their unbroken 81-run stand from 34 balls carried MI New York beyond 200, but Washington’s total remained out of reach.
Pollard completed his hundred from the final ball, finishing unbeaten on 100 from 56 deliveries with 11 fours and four sixes. During the innings, he moved beyond Chris Gayle’s career aggregate of 14,562 to become the leading run-scorer in recognised T20 cricket. The landmark added historical importance to a contest MI New York nevertheless lost.
Maxwell was Washington’s leading bowler with two for 37, while Saurabh Netravalkar and Ian Holland claimed one wicket each. The two early run-outs also played an important role in placing the chase beyond MI New York before Pollard could establish himself.
Owen was named Player of the Match after producing the innings that defined Washington’s first victory of the season. His combination of power and sustained scoring transformed the match before the halfway point, while Washington’s early wickets ensured Pollard’s response came too late to alter the result.
The victory moved Washington to one win from two matches after their defeat to Seattle. MI New York opened their title defence with a loss, but Pollard’s century and Bosch’s late contribution offered encouragement before their meeting with Texas Super Kings the following day.
MATCH SUMMARY
WASHINGTON FREEDOM – 245/5, 20 overs
Mitchell Owen 155, Steve Smith 27, Mark Chapman 23
Corey Anderson 1/27, Romario Shepherd 1/31, Corbin Bosch 1/41
MI NEW YORK – 215/6, 20 overs
Kieron Pollard 100 not out, Corbin Bosch 35 not out, Romario Shepherd 26
Glenn Maxwell 2/37, Ian Holland 1/19, Saurabh Netravalkar 1/42
Result: Washington Freedom won by 30 runs.
Player of the Match: Mitchell Owen.
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