Washington Freedom Beat TSK on Last Ball — MLC 2026 Match Report (Oakland)

Texas Super Kings (Playing XI): Faf du Plessis (c), Saiteja Mukkamalla (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Milind Kumar, Donovan Ferreira, Wiaan Mulder, Shubham Ranjane, Adam Milne, Amshi de Silva, Abhimanyu Lamba, Akeal Hosein

Texas Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat.

"Just the nature of the competition so far. I think especially first wicket they're playing on again today is similar to the other day where it felt like in the evening it got a little bit more trickier. Good variation in terms of your attack is really important, and then the lengths that you bowl on this wicket is really, really important. One change, Akeal Hosein comes in — tactical, just looks like the wicket is spinning a little bit more than we initially thought it would and if there's a little bit of hold in the surface, he's a master at it." — Faf du Plessis

The second match of the day's double header brings Texas Super Kings back to Oakland Coliseum — their fortress — against Washington Freedom. TSK arrive on the back of back-to-back wins at this ground, while Washington have had a tournament of brilliant individual moments, most notably Mitchell Owen's record-breaking 155 against MI New York, but are searching for more consistency as a unit to climb the standings.

Head to Head: TSK vs Washington Freedom

Washington Freedom lead 3–1 (with one no result) — this fixture has not been kind to TSK historically. Washington have won three of the four completed meetings, including a dominant 7-wicket chase in 2025 when TSK posted 220. TSK's only win came in a rain-affected DLS finish in 2025. The pattern is clear: on a flat track, Washington's batting depth can overwhelm TSK's attack; TSK need conditions to assist them.

Key Battles: Who Dominates This Fixture

TSK's top performers vs Washington Freedom: Faf du Plessis is, again, the standout — 238 runs in 4 matches at SR 166.4, well ahead of anyone else on either side. Among the current squad, Donovan Ferreira has been devastating in limited exposure — 46 runs in 2 innings at SR 287.5. Shubham Ranjane has looked assured in this fixture too — 65 runs in 2 innings at SR 260.0. Milind Kumar contributes steadily — 47 runs across 4 innings (SR 127.0).

Washington's danger men vs TSK: Travis Head is the most explosive threat — 85 runs in 2 matches at a stunning SR 236.1. Alex Gous leads the run-scorers with 108 runs in 4 matches (SR 150.0) — a consistent presence at the top across multiple seasons. Mitchell Owen adds 96 runs in 2 matches (SR 160.0), and with his record-breaking form this season, he's the most dangerous batter in the competition right now. Steve Smith (83 runs, SR 148.2) and Glenn Maxwell (54 runs in 3 matches) give Washington impressive depth.

Bowling picture: For TSK, Adam Milne leads this fixture with 3 wickets in 1 match — a standout individual performance. Mohammad Mohsin has 1 wicket from 2 appearances (Eco 7.38). The current attack has relatively limited history in this matchup; AJ Hosein and Abhimanyu Lamba's spin could be crucial on what looked a slow Oakland surface on Thursday.

For Washington, Rachin Ravindra leads with 5 wickets in 2 matches (Eco 6.43) — the most economical wicket-taker in the fixture. Glenn Maxwell adds 5 wickets in 3 matches and Saurabh Netravalkar has 4 wickets across 4 appearances. Marco Jansen (4 wickets, Eco 8.47) poses a serious new-ball threat.

TSK Innings: Ferreira and Mulder Rescue TSK After Sticky Start

Powerplay Struggle: Ferguson Gets Faf Early on a Slow Oakland Deck

The surface lived up to Faf's pre-match warning — batting first on a slow, sticky Oakland deck proved difficult from the off. Lockie Ferguson was excellent with the new ball, hitting hard lengths that gave batters almost nothing to drive at. Faf tried to go over the top anyway and got a thick outside edge straight to keeper Andries Gous — Faf du Plessis c Gous b Ferguson 8(14). TSK reviewed immediately, hoping it was bat on pad, but UltraEdge confirmed the nick and a review was gone.

Mukkamalla and Rossouw steadied things through the remainder of the powerplay, but runs were hard to come by. TSK reached the end of six overs having lost their captain early, still searching for fluency on a surface that was demanding respect.

Nikhil Chaudhary Breaks the Stand: Mukkamalla Falls for 37

Rossouw and Mukkamalla stitched together a 48-run partnership to give TSK some momentum through the middle overs — an increasingly important stand given the conditions. But just before drinks, Nikhil Chaudhary produced one that gripped off the surface, Mukkamalla opened the bat face trying to work it past backward point and got a thick outside edge straight into the keeper's gloves. Saiteja Mukkamalla c Andries Gous b Nikhil Chaudhary 37(28) — four fours, one six. 38 yesterday, 37 today: getting set, then gone.

At drinks, TSK had Rossouw well in — 29 from 17 balls — and Milind Kumar freshly to the crease. The game was evenly poised, with Washington's bowlers doing exactly what the surface asked of them.

Two Dropped Catches, 75 Runs: Ferreira and Mulder Take TSK to 185

Washington fought back immediately after drinks — Rossouw fell for 34(24), two fours and two sixes, caught off Nikhil Chaudhary, and Milind Kumar followed for 13(15) off Jansen. TSK were wobbling at five down with the death overs looming.

Then Washington had two chances to put the game to bed — and dropped Donovan Ferreira both times. They would rue it dearly. Ferreira, reprieved, combined with fellow South African Wiaan Mulder to produce one of the most brutal finishes of the MLC 2026 season. In a 31-ball partnership worth 75 unbroken runs, the two tore into every bowler Washington threw at them. Mulder finished on 43(20)* — one four, four sixes. Ferreira, who might not even have been at the crease had the catches stuck, blasted 44(20)* — one four, five sixes.

A total that looked beyond them at drinks now looked very competitive on this surface.

Washington Freedom Chase: Owen's 40-Ball Blitz Sets Up a Thriller

Owen Explodes From Ball One: Freedom Race to 65-0 in the Powerplay

Washington's chase began at a different tempo entirely. Mitchell Owen — in the kind of form that produced that record 155 earlier this season — came out swinging from ball one, while Steven Smith played the steadier hand alongside him. The opening pair put on an unbroken stand through the powerplay, reaching the drinks with all ten wickets in hand. Owen was on 40 from just 19 balls, Smith a measured 22 from 17. TSK desperately needed a breakthrough — and they got two in quick succession.

Mulder and Milne Strike Back: TSK Claw Two Wickets in a Flash

Wiaan Mulder broke the opening stand, drawing Smith into a heave on the on-side — Smith closed the bat face early and the ball took the leading edge to the right of the keeper. Saiteja Mukkamalla took a sharp catch to his right. Steven Smith c Mukkamalla b Mulder 30(21) — three sixes.

Then Adam Milne struck immediately after, tempting Mark Chapman to chip a full wide delivery over the infield. Chapman couldn't get the elevation, and the ball looped around head height straight to Faf du Plessis, who moved to his right and took it calmly. Mark Chapman c du Plessis b Milne 2(4) — two wickets in a flash, and suddenly TSK were right back in it.

Owen and Smith had put on 91 in just 7.4 overs before Smith fell, making the chase look easy. But Owen was still there on a staggering 73 from 31 balls. TSK had clawed two wickets back, but with Owen at the crease and 74 needed from 60, Washington remained firm favourites. Getting Owen was everything now.

TSK Choke the Middle Overs: 43 Needed off 4 With Five Down

TSK did get Owen — and more. The middle overs produced a remarkable twist as Washington lost three further wickets, suddenly finding themselves with four overs remaining and 43 still needed. What had looked a comfortable chase was now a genuine contest. Obus Pienaar and Marco Jansen played handy cameos to keep the equation manageable, but with six needed off the last over and four wickets in hand, TSK had one more chance. They turned to Akeal Hosein.

Hosein's Hat-Trick and a Last-Ball Six: The Most Dramatic Final Over in MLC 2026

What followed was one of the most extraordinary overs in MLC history. Hosein struck on the second ball — Marco Jansen top-edged a sweep to Abhimanyu Lamba at short fine leg for 9(5). Then, next ball, pinch-hitter Amila Aponso tried to be the hero and holed out to deep backward square leg — Aponso c Wiaan Mulder b Hosein 0(1). And the very next delivery, Asif Mehmood backed away on the pull, overbalanced, and Mukkamalla broke the stumps in a flash — Mehmood st Mukkamalla b Hosein 0(1). A hat-trick. Three wickets in three balls. Washington were 181-8, six needed off two balls, and Nikhil Chaudhary — who had been watching from the other end, unable to face — was stranded.

TSK reviewed a big LBW shout off the penultimate ball against Lockie Ferguson, ball-tracking showed it was heading down leg — umpire's call, leg bye — Ferguson scrambled through for one. Five needed off one ball, Chaudhary finally on strike.

He shovelled Hosein high over deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep leapt — he could only watch it soar over his head. Six. Washington Freedom had won.

Result: Washington Freedom Won by 1 Wicket

Washington Freedom beat Texas Super Kings by 1 wicket off the last ball at Oakland Coliseum — one of the most dramatic finishes MLC has seen.

TSK's 185-4, built on the Ferreira-Mulder carnage in the death, looked like it might be enough. Hosein's hat-trick in the penultimate over — Jansen, Aponso, Mehmood all gone in three balls — had made the impossible look probable. But Nikhil Chaudhary, cool-headed throughout with 27*(19), got on strike off the last ball needing five and cleared deep mid-wicket for six. Washington will celebrate this; they also know they nearly threw it away from a position of complete control. And with that, TSK's perfect Oakland record — five wins from five coming into this game — was broken for the first time. Washington Freedom ended it in the most dramatic fashion possible. 💛