Batting first after being put in by the Unicorns, Washington Freedom’s openers, Travis Head (56 off 36 balls) and captain Steve Smith (56 off 31 balls), gave their team a strong start, putting on 101 runs for the first wicket.They finished at 174 for 3 in 15.3 overs before rain interrupted play and reduced the number of overs.
Following the rain delay and the application of the Duckworth-Lewis method, the Unicorns were set a target of 177 runs from 14 overs.
The Unicorns suffered an early blow when Finn Allen was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball. Jake Fraser-McGurk contributed a quick 18 off 9 balls before being out.
Krishnamurthi and Josh Inglis (45 off 17 balls) then took control, dismantling the Freedom’s bowling attack. Krishnamurthi’s explosive knock featured 6 sixes and 5 fours, while Inglis struck 6 sixes and 1 four, batting at an astonishing strike rate of 264.71. The Unicorns achieved their target in just 13.4 overs.
Krishnamurthi was named Man of the Match for his performance.
“I decided to go hard from the beginning, taking my chances, and it worked out today. I focused on my mental approach, which allowed me to play freely. The pitch wasn’t turning much for the left-arm spinners, so I stayed calm,” he said after leading his team to victory.
This defeat was the first for Washington Freedom in the tournament.
Despite the loss, the Steve Smith-led side still finished at the top of the points table.
Washington Freedom will face San Francisco Unicorns again in the Qualifier on Thursday (July 25) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
