Maxwell, Netravalkar, Edwards set up Freedom’s statement win

Maxwell, Netravalkar, Edwards Set Up Freedom's Statement Win

Glenn Maxwell, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Jack Edwards each picked three wickets to set up Washington Freedom's comprehensive victory over Seattle Orcas, strengthening their case for a top-two finish.

The Orcas' momentum from the last three games was squandered early, with Netravalkar striking on the first ball of the game. He and Maxwell struck four times in as many overs, leaving the Orcas at 19 for 5 in the sixth over.

Shimron Hetmyer was caught behind for just five in the ninth over, and Heinrich Klaasen fought on from one end, but continued to run out of batting partners. He was the last wicket to fall in the 18th over, scoring 48 off 39 balls, while the remaining 10 batters all returned single-digit scores.

The Orcas were bundled out for just 82, their third lowest total in MLC history. Rachin Ravindra then arrived, smashing Gerald Coetzee, Harmeet Singh, and Sikandar Raza in the opening three overs. Freedom were more than halfway through to the target by the end of the PowerPlay at 50/1.

Mukhtar Ahmed and Ravindra hastened the end further, going after Coetzee in the eighth over worth 16 runs. The chase was wrapped up in the ninth over.

Brief Scores

• Seattle Orcas 82 (Heinrich Klaasen 48; Glenn Maxwell 3-12, Saurabh Netravalkar 3-13, Jack Edwards 3-19)
• Washington Freedom 86/2 (Mukhtar Ahmed 36*, Rachin Ravindra 32)
• Result: Washington Freedom won by 8 wickets