The thrilling cricket action in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 reached a fever pitch during the 27th match of the tournament on July 11, 2026. Under the bright lights at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, the Texas Super Kings (TSK) clashed with Washington Freedom in a high-stakes night game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final over. In a dramatic finish that went down to the wire, Washington Freedom edged out the Texas Super Kings by three wickets with just two balls remaining, successfully chasing down a tricky target of 166 runs. The star of the night was undoubtedly Ben Dwarshuis, whose exceptional all-round display earned him the Player of the Match honours and consolidated Washington’s commanding position in the tournament.
Disciplined Washington Freedom folds TSK to a competitive score
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Washington Freedom faced an immediate onslaught from the Texas openers. Faf du Plessis and Saiteja Mukkamalla put together a blistering 93-run opening stand in just 9.2 overs. Du Plessis anchored the innings beautifully, compiling a structured 61 off 41 balls, punctuated by seven fours and three massive sixes. Mukkamalla provided explosive support, scoring a rapid 47 off 29 balls at a strike rate of 162.06. At 93 for no loss, Texas looked well on track for a massive total well beyond 190.
However, Washington Freedom’s bowling attack staged a brilliant, highly disciplined fightback to pull things back in the second half of the innings. The breakthrough came when Nikhil Chaudhary dismissed Mukkamalla, triggering a massive collapse. Mitchell Owen turned the screws with a phenomenal spell of 2 for 19 in three overs, removing the dangerous Rilee Rossouw for just 4. Rachin Ravindra chipped in with crucial middle-order scalps, finishing with figures of 2 for 20.
Chaudhary also picked up a second wicket to finish with 2 for 30, while Dwarshuis chipped in by removing Shubham Ranjane for 20. Washington’s relentless pressure, combined with sharp fielding that resulted in two run-outs, forced TSK into a downward spiral. Texas lost their final 10 wickets for just 72 runs, getting bundled out for 165 on the very final ball of their 20 overs.
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Ben Dwarshuis match winning cameo leads Washington Freedom to a commanding victory against TSK
Chasing 166, Washington Freedom’s innings mirrored a rollercoaster ride. Skipper Steven Smith laid a solid foundation, playing a classy knock of 46 runs from 29 balls, including 4 fours and a six. Rachin Ravindra provided a quick spark with a 12-ball 24, but the Texas bowling unit refused to back down. Akeal Hosein (2/26), Abhimanyu Lamba (2/39), and Dian Forrester (2/28) struck at regular intervals, dismantling Washington’s middle order.
When Obus Pienaar fell in the 19th over, Washington was left reeling at 149 for 7, still needing 17 runs off the remaining ten balls with only the tailenders left.
Enter Ben Dwarshuis. Having already delivered a steady four-over spell earlier in the evening, the all-rounder launched a breathtaking assault on the TSK bowlers. Dwarshuis smashed a sensational, unbeaten 38 runs off just 16 deliveries, striking at a staggering 237.50. His cameo included two fours and three crucial sixes that completely shifted the momentum. Alongside Marco Jansen (7*), Dwarshuis displayed nerves of steel to guide Washington Freedom across the finish line at 166 for 7 in 19.4 overs, securing a spectacular victory.
This one came down to the wire, but Washington Freedom claim the victory with two balls to spare 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yNt6fXFX5C
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 12, 2026
