Glenn Maxwell roared back to form with a blistering unbeaten century, while Mitch Owen delivered an explosive cameo and a three-wicket haul, as Washington Freedom thrashed Los Angeles Knight Riders by 113 runs in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 on Tuesday night. The win marked Freedom’s second of the season, while LAKR slumped to their third consecutive defeat.
Opting to bowl first, the Knight Riders made early inroads, reducing Freedom to 53 for 3 within the first four overs. Despite the quick wickets, the innings got off to a flying start thanks to Mitch Owen’s 11-ball 32, during which he took on Corne Dry, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Jason Holder.
As the innings progressed, Washington’s momentum dipped with wickets falling at regular intervals. By the end of the 13th over, they were reeling at 98 for 5. However, skipper Glenn Maxwell then launched a ferocious counterattack.
Maxwell, who had been struggling for form, unleashed a six-hitting masterclass. He smashed three successive sixes off Jason Sangha to break the shackles and then took on Sunil Narine to bring up his half-century. There was no stopping him after that. He dispatched Dry, Holder and Andre Russell to all corners of the ground, finishing with an unbeaten 106 off just 52 balls – a knock that included 13 towering sixes and only two boundaries. Alongside Obus Pienaar, who scored a subdued 14 off 15 balls, Maxwell stitched an unbroken 116-run stand for the sixth wicket to propel Freedom to a daunting 208 for 5.
In reply, LA Knight Riders crumbled under pressure. None of the top-three managed to get off the mark, and by the eighth over, they were reduced to 26 for 5. Saurabh Netrawalkar and Mark Adair struck early, before Mitch Owen and Jack Edwards piled on the damage. Owen later returned to remove Sai Badar, who had attempted a minor recovery alongside Holder with a 35-run stand for the sixth wicket.
The collapse resumed after Badar’s dismissal, and despite some late resistance from Dry and van Schalkwyk, LAKR were bowled out for just 95 in 16.3 overs.
Brief Scores:
Washington Freedom 208/5 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 106, Mitch Owen 32; Corne Dry 2-33, Tanveer Sangha 2-38)
Los Angeles Knight Riders 95 in 16.3 overs (Saif Badar 32, Jason Holder 23; Jack Edwards 3-15, Mitch Owen 3-16)*
Result: Washington Freedom won by 113 runs.
