Washington Liberty they put on a sensational display of batting before holding their nerve with the ball to beat them MI New York By 30 runs in the 5th Match Major League Cricket 2026 at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Mitchell Owen scores breathtaking hundreds
After asking to bat first, Washington Liberty amassed an impressive total of 245/5 in the 20 overs. Mitchell Owenhe was deservedly named Player of the Match.
The shooting started continuously Steve Smith He contributed 27 off 21 deliveries but it was Owen who turned the contest into a run fest. The aggressive opener unleashed a string of attacking hits, hitting 11 fours and 13 sixes in a remarkable 68-ball innings. Mark Chapman He added valuable momentum with 23 off just 12 balls, while late cameos ensured the innings never lost steam. Glenn Maxwell and Jack Edwards failed to make significant contributions but Obus Pienaar’s unbeaten five off two deliveries helped them finish the innings strongly.
MI New York’s bowlers struggled to contain the relentless onslaught. Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch, Romario Shepherd, Rushil Ugarkar and Corey Anderson each claimed a goaltender, but each front lineman delivered heavily as the Washington Freedom posted one of the highest totals of the tournament.
Kieron Pollard’s century keeps MI New York in the hunt
Chasing a staggering target of 246, MI endured a disastrous start as did New York Quinton De Kock, Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran went cheap inside the opening exchanges. Early failures left the batting side under huge pressure, but the veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard produced a spectacular counter-attack to revive hopes.
Pollard produced a perfect unbeaten century, scoring a perfect 100 off 56 balls with 11 boundaries and four sixes. His fearless batting kept MI New York at bay during the chase, despite the caps falling around him. Tajinder Singh and Corey Anderson started without turning into a significant score Romario Shepherd Chip with 26.
Corbin Bosch An unbeaten 35 off just 14 deliveries, he added a late thrill by dropping three sixes in a quick-fire cameo. However, the required rate continued to rise and despite Pollard’s heroic effort, MI New York closed at 215/6 after 20 runs, 30 runs behind.
Washington Freedom bowlers scored a memorable victory
The Washington Freedom bowling attack mixed discipline with timely breakthroughs to prevent Pollard’s brilliance from turning into a match-winning effort. Glenn Maxwell MI led the way with figures of 2/37 from four overs, striking at crucial moments to halt New York’s progress. Ian Holland also made an impact by conceding a key hit while conceding just 19 runs in his two-over spell. Saurabh Netrawalkar while chipped in with a wicket Marco Jansen, Jack Edwards and Asif Mehmood absorbed the pressure despite the aggressive hitting on the screen.
The victory was built on Mitchell Owen’s extraordinary innings which ultimately proved the decisive difference between the two sides. His 155-run blitz underpinned Washington Freedom’s commanding total and overshadowed Pollard’s batting century as the team cruised to a convincing 30-run victory in an entertaining high-scoring contest.
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