By Tim Douglas 
Washington Freedom wrote themselves into Major League Cricket history books with a record-breaking run chase at Grand Prairie, successfully hunting down 221 against Texas Super Kings thanks to Mitchell Owen’s explosive 89 and Andries Gous’s calm unbeaten 80.
Faced with a daunting target of 221, Washington needed a near-perfect performance — and that’s exactly what they delivered. After the early departure of Rachin Ravindra, it was the second-wicket pair of Owen and Gous that took center stage, compiling a game-changing 119-run stand off just 57 balls.
Mitchell Owen, who’s fast becoming Freedom’s go-to man, was in sublime touch yet again. He peppered the boundaries with ease and tackled both spin and pace with equal authority. His third over attack on Noor Ahmad, where he smashed 22 runs, proved to be a pivotal momentum shift in the chase.
When Owen fell in the 15th over, the run rate was still climbing. But Andries Gous, unshaken and methodical, ensured that the chase stayed in control. He anchored the innings to perfection and found support from Glenn Maxwell, who smashed a brisk 20 off 12 balls before perishing.
In the final over, with just a few runs needed, Gous and Glenn Phillips calmly took Washington across the finish line with two balls to spare, not only completing a thrilling 7-wicket win but also setting a new benchmark for the highest successful chase in MLC history.
Earlier in the evening, Texas Super Kings, put into bat, made a strong start. Faf du Plessis delivered another blistering innings, scoring 69 off just 31 deliveries, backed by quick contributions from Marcus Stoinis (32), Milind Kumar (31), and Shubham Ranjane (26). Their 220/6 was a massive total — but it wasn’t enough.
Washington’s bowlers, especially Mitchell Owen, who also claimed 3 key wickets, including that of Du Plessis, helped keep things in check before the batting unit took over in grand fashion.
This win propels Washington Freedom to second place on the points table, their fourth straight win showing growing consistency and confidence. They’ll enjoy a brief break before returning to face LA Knight Riders on June 26.
For the Texas Super Kings, the loss spells back-to-back defeats at home. They’ll hope to bounce back when they meet LA Knight Riders on June 24.
Match Summary:
Texas Super Kings: 220/6 (Faf du Plessis 69, Stoinis 32; Owen 3/33, Maxwell 2/35)
Washington Freedom: 223/3 (Owen 89, Gous 80*, Maxwell 20; Milne 3/42)
Result: Washington Freedom won by 7 wickets (2 balls remaining)
Anas Ahmed