Ferguson and Netravalkar Propel Washington to Top of the Table
Ferguson and Netravalkar Power Washington to Top
Washington Freedom showcased an impressive bowling display to rout the Seattle Orcas, securing a dominant victory by five wickets in a tense encounter. The pace duo of Lockie Ferguson and Saurabh Netravalkar wreaked havoc on the Orcas’ batting lineup, sharing seven wickets between them and restricting the opposition to a mere 124 runs.
Opting to bat first, the Orcas struggled to establish any momentum, with Heinrich Klaasen being the sole standout performer. Klaasen’s aggressive knock of 51 off 30 balls provided a glimmer of hope, but the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure. Ferguson struck early, dismissing opener Quinton de Kock for 24 and quickly following up with the wickets of Imad Wasim and Hammad Azam in the same over. Marco Jansen also joined the fray, sending Klaasen back to the pavilion, while Netravalkar wrapped up the innings by claiming two late wickets.
Seattle’s batting collapse saw them all out in just 19.4 overs, falling well short of a competitive total.
In response, Washington faced an early scare as they lost Travis Head for a duck on just the second ball. The pressure mounted as Rachin Ravindra, Steven Smith, and Mukhtar Ahmed fell in quick succession, leaving Freedom at a precarious 53 for 4. Glenn Maxwell’s dismissal for 11 further complicated matters. However, Lahiru Milantha and Obus Pienaar steadied the ship with a crucial unbeaten partnership of 63 runs for the sixth wicket, guiding Washington to victory without any further hiccups.
Brief Scores:
- Seattle Orcas: 124 all out in 19.4 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 51; Lockie Ferguson 4-26, Saurabh Netravalkar 3-21)
- Washington Freedom: 127/5 in 18.2 overs (Lahiru Milantha 33*)
This victory propels Washington to the top of the standings, demonstrating their resilience and strength in the competition.
