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

Glenn Maxwell (3-12), Saurabh Netravalkar (3-13) and Jack Edwards (3-19) picked three wickets each to set up Washington Freedom's comprehensive victory over Seattle Orcas to strengthen their case for a top-two finish. This smashing win came on the same day when fellow aspirants Texas Super Kings were downed, allowing Freedom to usurp them to second spot with one league game each to go. The implications are far worse for Orcas, who remain on six points, only two ahead of MI New York at fifth.

All the Shimron Hetmyer-fuelled momentum from the last three games was squandered early by the Orcas as Netravalkar started with a wicket on the first ball of the game. He and Maxwell struck four times in as many overs. Hetmyer walked out to an absolute wreckage in the sixth over as Maxwell picked his third to bring down the Orcas to 19 for 5.

There was no heroic act to follow from the West Indian this time as Edwards had him caught behind for just five in the ninth over. While Heinrich Klaasen fought on from one end, he continued to run out of batting partners at the other. He was the last wicket to fall in the 18th over, for a 39-ball 48, while the remaining 10 batters all returned single-digit scores. In the 18th over, thus, the Orcas were bundled out for just 82, their third lowest total in MLC history.

Rachin Ravindra then arrived with the intention of wrapping up quickly as he flew off the blocks to smash Gerald Coetzee, Harmeet Singh and Sikandar Raza in the opening three overs. Raza hit back by dismissing Mitch Owen, but any joy on this evening was short-lived for the Orcas. In just the following over from Coetzee, Ravindra was dropped by Aaron Jones at cover and then by Raza in the next over off his own bowling. 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 by going after Coetzee in the eighth over worth 16 runs. Jessy Singh dismissed Ravindra in the ninth over but exactly seven balls later, the chase was wrapped up.

Brief Scores: Seattle Orcas 82 in 17.4 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 48; Glenn Maxwell 3-12, Saurabh Netravalkar 3-13, Jack Edwards 3-19) lost to Washington Freedom 86/2 in 9.2 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 36*, Rachin Ravindra 32) by 8 wickets