1.2 edged and taken this time! Hard length, angling across the batter outside off. Head has a swipe across the line and the ball flies off the outside edge towards slip. Allen has two bites at the cherry but eventually clings on. What a moment in the game, and it is that man Cummins again! 11/1

16.3 goes straight up, and Smith has to go! Banged into the track outside off. Smith has a swipe across the line. He is, however, trying to fetch it and loses control of the stroke in the process. Spoons up off the top edge and Inglis makes no mistake. A captain's knock, and it has put Washington in a commanding position in the final! 169/4

5.5 Hassan breaks through! Dangles the carrot on a length on off and Gous bites. Steps down, trying to go downtown but is nowhere to the pitch of the ball. Has to reach out and the ball spins just enough to take the outer half of the bat. Slices it tamely to long off and Allen makes no mistake! 49/2

10.1 off stump flattened! Full, fast and furious, honing into off stump from around the wicket. Ravindra tries to access the off side but is a tad late on the stroke. Gets an inside edge on his drive and the ball cannons into off stump. Rauf wheels away in celebration and the Unicorns have broken this potentially threatening stand! 86/3

17.2 is that a bird? Is that a plane? No, it is Josh Inglis flying through the air! Hard length outside off. Maxwell backs away and throws the kitchen sink at it. Gets a healthy outside edge that seems destined to race away until....Inglis flies to his right, flings out his right mitt and plucks it out of thin air. Massive wicket! 177/5

4.5 Jansen has another, and the Unicorns are flagging! Off-pace on a length outside off. Allen has a swipe across the line but is always fighting the angle. Tugs at it too much and inside-edges it onto his stumps. Off stump lies flat on the ground, and the Unicorns are three down, inside the powerplay! 30/3

2.1 chopped on! Jansen breaks through! Hard length, slanting across JFM just outside off. He tries to hack it leg side but does not have the requisite room to work with. All he manages is a thick inside edge that smashes into the top of off stump. Just what Washington would have wanted! 15/1

3.5 gone this time! Krishnamurthi's luck runs out! Hard length on middle and leg. Krishnamurthi wants to deposit this over cow corner but is tucked up for room. Cannot extend his arms and just cloths it straight up. Head settles under it at mid wicket and does the rest! 30/2

8.1 the bails light up again, and Washington are all over the Unicorns like a rash! Length outside off. Inglis aims for the moon and loses all shape. Tugs at it too hard and the ball kisses the inside edge before rattling middle stump. The Unicorns are five down, inside nine overs! 53/5

7.4 no luck for Rutherford, though, and the Unicorns slide further! Similarly shortish, slanting into middle and leg. Rutherford looks for the pick-up pull but cannot get under it. Nor can he get the direction he wants and he picks out Holland at deep backward square leg to absolute perfection! 51/4

10.4 no Hassan heroics tonight! Slips in the bouncer after going full the entire over, and it takes Hassan by surprise. He does not transfer his weight enough and miscues his pull. Skews up off the top edge and Ravindra, stationed at fine leg, tracks it all the way, completing the catch with a dive to his left! 78/8

8.3 Anderson bites the dust, and this is going awfully pear-shaped for the Unicorns! Banged into the track outside off. Anderson charges down the track and has an almighty swish at it. The ball gets very big on him and the ball goes nowhere. Straight up towards backward point, and Holland snaffles it up. The Unicorns pushed further against the ropes! 53/6

9.5 big shout, and the finger goes up! That looked pretty straight too! Angled in on a back of a length on middle and leg. Cummins, rather ambitiously, looks for the reverse and makes a hash of it. Gets pinned on the pad, right in front of the stumps. Cummins has reviewed but this could be in vain. No bat involved and Ball Tracking has the ball thundering into middle and leg stump. Cummins has to go and he takes a review along with him! 68/7

13.5 stumped by a mile! Floated up nicely on off. Rauf charges down the track and tries to smash it to New York. Misses the ball by a mile as it turns enough past the outside edge and Gous does the rest. Washington just one wicket away now! 92/9

15.6 Disappointment in Dallas in 2023 but now a triumph in Texas in 2024! Washington Freedom, champions of the MLC. And the best team won it in the end! Slowed up beautifully on a length on off. Slants in before snaking away. Drysdale has no clue about it and the ball knocks back off stump. A starry and dizzying night under the Dallas nights, and the embraces begin in the Washington camp! Dejection all around from those in San Francisco colours, and they will be crestfallen at having let go of this opportunity to stand atop the MLC pile! 111/10