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Washington Freedom defeat San Francisco Unicorns to reach MLC 2026 final
They are set to face the Los Angeles Knight Riders at the MLC 2026 final on July 18.
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Bhavana P - Fri, 17, Jul 2026
- 11:08 EDT
- 47
Representative Image / X/ WSHFreedom
Washington Freedom advanced to the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 final with a seven-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns in the Challenger match at the Oakland Coliseum on July 16.
After being put in to bat, Washington Freedom posted 238 for 6 in 20 overs on the back of contributions throughout the batting order. Andries Gous top-scored with 73 off 40 balls, while Steven Smith made 43 off 20 and Mitchell Owen struck 42 off 19. Rachin Ravindra added 28 off 14 as Freedom maintained a brisk scoring rate from the outset.
Also read: LA Knight Riders advance to MLC 2026 final
Gous anchored the latter half of the innings, hitting eight fours and three sixes before falling in the final over. Nikhil Chaudhary remained unbeaten on 20, while Ben Dwarshuis added a quick 11 off four deliveries. Xavier Bartlett was the pick of the Unicorns' bowlers with figures of 3 for 36, while Ghulam Mudassar returned 2 for 32.
In reply, San Francisco Unicorns lost openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen inside the first five overs, leaving the side at 46 for 2. Captain Matthew Short then produced an unbeaten 121 off 56 balls, an innings that included 11 fours and eight sixes, to keep his team in contention throughout the chase.
Short received late support from Bartlett, who remained unbeaten on 28 off 13 balls with three sixes. The pair added valuable runs in the closing overs, but San Francisco finished on 231 for 6, seven runs short of the target.
Ben Dwarshuis claimed 2 for 44 for Washington Freedom, while Nikhil Chaudhary and Rachin Ravindra took one wicket each.
The victory sends Washington Freedom into the MLC 2026 final, where it will face the Los Angeles Knight Riders on July 18. Despite the defeat, the Unicorns finished their campaign with a strong batting display led by Short's century in a match that produced a combined 469 runs.
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