Ben Dwarshuis stars with the bat to end TSK’s playoffs hopes

Ben Dwarshuis stars with the bat to end TSK's playoffs hopes

Ben Dwarshuis smashed an unbeaten 38 off 16 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) to lead Washington Freedom past Texas Super Kings and dash their playoff hopes.

Chasing 165, Freedom needed 52 off the final 24 balls at 114/6. Dwarshuis took charge immediately, launching a six over deep mid-wicket in the 17th over. Partner Obus Pienaar also cleared the ropes, and Dwarshuis ended the over with another six over long-off as 22 runs came off it.

A tight over from Adam Milne followed, conceding just five off five balls, but a missed yorker was punished for four. Milne then had to defend 10 off the final over, but Dwarshuis smashed a six down the ground and sealed victory two balls later.

The chase got tighter than it should have. After Mitchell Owen fell early, Rachin Ravindra and Steve Smith put on 60 off 30 balls to race to 79/1. But Ravindra's dismissal triggered a collapse to 107/6 in 15.1 overs, before Dwarshuis steadied.

Super Kings' innings was built on a 93-run opening stand between Faf du Plessis (61) and Saiteja Mukkamalla (47), but they lost wickets in clusters – from 93/1 to 130/4 – before a complete collapse at the death, losing 6 wickets for 33 runs.

The win moves Freedom to fourth with 10 points. The top four teams are all tied on 10 points, separated by NRR.

Brief Scores: Texas Super Kings 165 (F du Plessis 61, S Mukkamalla 47; M Owen 2-19, R Ravindra 2-20, N Chaudhary 2-30) lost to Washington Freedom 166/7 in 19.4 overs (S Smith 46, B Dwarshuis 38*; A Hosein 2-26, D Forrester 2-28) by 3 wickets.