The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So that's it. Freedom continue to march on in this tournament. They are in stunning form, the best we have seen in MLC. The new captain-coach combination seems to be doing wonders as every player is strongly performing a specific role. MI New York, on the other hand, look too dependent on Boult, Pooran and Pollard and an incohesive unit overall. They need a ton of inspiration to turn it around, whether it's from the coaches or the captain. For now, it's Rudransh and Karthik signing off for Sportskeeda. We'll see you soon in another game!
Steven Smith (Washington Freedom captain): I thought Travis started nicely. The wicket was tacky and they got defensive to him, and he capitalized. Rachin at the end and Jassi were outstanding. It was a pretty good total on this wicket. I thought if we could control the powerplay, you could defend on the longer side. The bowlers did a really good job taking so many wickets upfront. Marco bowls his best when he's charging in. He gets the amazing zip and set the tone today. Jas had nerves but did well. The first objective is done but winning is a habit and we need to build to the back-end so we can play our best cricket. It's been enjoyable.
Kieron Pollard (MI New York captain): We were decent with the ball. We made Travis Head hit where we wanted him to. We did well in the powerplay, then let it slip before getting it back. Still it was 20 overs too many. The batting effort was atrocious. It's unacceptable if your middle order is coming out in the powerplay. I take the responsibility for that. We have an opportunity still to right the wrongs. Whatever opportunity comes, we need to accept it as individuals.
Jasdeep Singh (Most Valuable Player of the Match): Two weeks back, when the Major League Cricket started, I was not disappointed to be not here. Thought if not this year, I will be here next year. Completely grateful to be here. Just tried to keep it simple. Had a chat with our coaching unit. Idea was to hit the lengths. Looked to bowl bouncers with one side being bigger. Had a bit of nerves, coming in as Saurabh's replacement. He has been terrific. There was pressure to keep up to the expectations. These guys have been welcoming, especially Lockie and Smudge (Steven Smith). I have never felt I am walking into a game. Those things make a big difference.
Jasdeep Singh has been named as the 'Most Valuable Player of the Match'
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Rachin Ravindra: Was just trying to build a partnership with Gous. They were also bowling well during the death overs. It is a slightly different role but we have got so many world-class players in the team, so we switch around. There was swing and seam, showed it wasn't an easy wicket. (About qualifying for the play-offs) Heard when we were walking off, hopefully we can build on that.
This is a thumping of the highest order from Freedom! They become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
They have shown why they are the top-ranked team and are unbeaten. MI New York just never looked in the game with the ball and in the field before it got much, much worse with the bat -- concluding with the second-lowest total in the MLC's small but significant history.
Jansen and Jasdeep had the important responsibility of replacing Netravalkar with the new ball. They did that brilliantly by hitting the hard lengths and making the ball move both ways. The mostly young top-four of the MI New York took too much pressure upon itself with no senior to find strike-rotation and release it.
It meant that when Pooran and Pollard came to the crease, the team was already four down with nothing to show for it. They didn't have it much better, thanks to Ferguson's peppering and Jasdeep's third wicket. Rashid Khan hit a six and debutant Shepherd added 25 to put up some respectability but that was the only takeaway.
Freedom were simply relentless, thanks to the hawkish captaincy from Smith and the disciplined bowling performance. They'll now aim for top-two -- how good does that sound this early in this tournament?
13.3 Glenn Maxwell to Ehsan Adil, THAT'S THAT! MINY ARE ROLLED OVER FOR 88! Full and turning in, Ehsan goes for a mighty slog-sweep but he misses as the furniture is messed up. This is the second-lowest total in MLC while the Washington Freedom become the first side to qualify for this season's play-offs!
Ehsan Adil b Glenn Maxwell 0 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
13.2 Glenn Maxwell to Ehsan Adil, full and sliding in, Ehsan pushes it to short mid-wicket. No run.
Ehsan Adil, RHB, comes out
Ninth goes down!
13.1 Glenn Maxwell to Trent Boult, MISCUED AND TAKEN! Full outside-off, Boult looks to swing big towards the leg-side but he mis-times the ball towards backward point where Ian Holland runs back and takes a nice catch.
Trent Boult c Holland b Glenn Maxwell 16 (13b, 0x4, 1x6)
13
overs
88/8score
1
0
4
0
1
1
runs
Trent Boult*
16(12)
Nosthush Kenjige
9(9)
Marco Jansen
2/18
12.6 Marco Jansen to Trent Boult, full outside-leg, Boult clears his front-leg and heaves it to long-on for a single.
12.5 Marco Jansen to Nosthush Kenjige, very full on the stumps, Kenjige drives it to mid-on and takes off for a single. Meanwhile, Rachin fires a direct-hit at the batter's end and we will go upstairs. The replays show that Boult dragged his bat comfortably into the crease.
12.4 Marco Jansen to Nosthush Kenjige, length delivery outside-leg and angling away, Kenjige defends it to the leg-side. No run.
12.3 Marco Jansen to Nosthush Kenjige, SMART SHOT! Short and angling away, Kenjige sways away and upper-cuts the ball over the keeper for a boundary.
12.2 Marco Jansen to Nosthush Kenjige, short of a length and angling away, Kenjige gets behind the ball and defends it. No run.
12.1 Marco Jansen to Trent Boult, full and angling away, Boult looks to slash it through cover while he gets it off the outer-half of the bat behind point. Single taken.