Smith Stars in Washington Freedom’s Historic T20 Victory
In an exciting Major League Cricket (MLC) Eliminator match on Wednesday night in Oakland, Australian cricket star Steve Smith led Washington Freedom to a stunning victory over the defending champions, MI New York. The team chased down a record 267 runs, setting a new benchmark for the highest T20 run-chase.
The game saw Nicholas Pooran achieve a remarkable feat by scoring a century off just 31 balls, the fastest in MLC history. Despite a shaky start at 10 for 2 in the first three overs, Smith and wicket-keeper Andries Gous turned the match around with a breathtaking partnership. Their record third-wicket stand of 241 runs came off only 89 balls, securing a six-wicket win for Washington. Gous was named Player of the Match for his explosive 132 runs, hitting 10 fours and 12 sixes.
This victory was especially sweet for Washington, as they faced MI New York again in a repeat of last year’s final, where MI emerged victorious. Smith finished the match unbeaten, scoring 110 runs off 48 balls, helping the team reach the target in just 18.4 overs.
With this win, Washington Freedom broke the previous T20 record for the biggest successful chase, which was held by the Punjab Kings. Earlier in IPL 2026, Punjab set the record at 265 runs while playing against the Delhi Capitals, bettering their own 262-run chase from 2024.
In the earlier match, Delhi Capitals scored 264 runs thanks to KL Rahul’s impressive 152 off 67 balls. Punjab Kings managed to chase this down, with standout performances from Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya during the powerplay, and finished the game with seven balls to spare.
Top T20 Run-Chases:
- Washington Freedom – 270/4 (18.4 overs) beat MI New York by 6 wickets
- Punjab Kings – 265/4 (18.5 overs) beat Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets
- Punjab Kings – 262/2 (18.4 overs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets
- South Africa – 259/4 (18.5 overs) beat West Indies by 6 wickets
- Brisbane Heat – 258/2 (19.5 overs) beat Perth Scorchers by 8 wickets
This thrilling match marks a significant milestone in T20 cricket history, showcasing the ever-growing excitement of the game.
