MLC 2023, Seattle Orcas vs Washington Freedom Updates: Orcas win by 5 wickets

We have now seen all of the MLC teams in action. Texas Super Kings, SF Unicorns and now Seattle Orcas have started with wins. The next match is tomorrow as Seattle Orcas take on the San Francisco Unicorns. That's all from us for now. Take Care and see you soon!

Seattle Orcas Win!

Seattle Orcas have won the Match 3 of MLC 2023 by 5 wickets. In the end, they did just enough to get over the line. Imad Wasim, Nauman Anwar and Shimron Hetmyer played a crucial role in the chase, and Shubham Ranjane applied the finishing touch in it.

Wicket!! Shimron Hetmyer is bowled. Is there a twist?? Hetmyer goes for an expansive slog to end the game, only manages an inside edge which crashes on to his stumps. Marco Jansen strikes. Orcas need 5 off 4 balls.

It is getting easier for the Orcas. Saurabh Netravalkar has conceded 11 runs off the 19th over and Orcas now just need 6 runs from the last over to get 2 points on the board.

Drama in the 18th over. First Netravalkar drops Shimron Hetmyer in the 2nd ball of the over, and then the West Indies player punishes with a six in the 5th ball. 16 needed off the last 2 overs.

An excellent over by Anrich Nortje, as the South African concedes just 4 runs in the 16th. Orcas need 38 runs in 4 overs to win the match as the required run rate jumps to 9/5 runs per over.

With the final quarter of the innings to play, Seattle Orcas need 42 runs to win. With six wickets in hand and players like Imad Wasim and Shimron Hetmyer at the crease, they are looking the likely winners of this match.

Shimron Hetmyer at the crease. Seattle Orcas need 48 runs in the last six overs. It promises to be a crunch finish at the Grand Prairie Stadium.

SO: 96/4

Wicket!! Just what was required for the Washington Freedom. Nauman Anwar is gone. Dane Piedt knocks him over as Anwar departs for a well made 48. Big wicket for the Freedom.

This partnership has been decent for the Orcas between Imad and Nauman. Together they have added 30 runs off 22 balls. Orcas: 73/3 after 11 overs.

Seattle Orcas officials at the ground.

CEO of @Veeam Anand Eswaran, cheering on our Seattle Orcas 🖤💚#SOvWF #SeattleOrcas #MajorLeagueCricket #PodSquad #Veeam pic.twitter.com/W9HfgPYGvB

— Seattle Orcas (@MLCSeattleOrcas) July 15, 2023

Strategic Time Out: Seattle Orcas are 57/3 after 9 overs. 88 runs required off 11 overs. It is a doable target but this chase looks tricky. For the Orcas, a partnership for the next 4 to 5 overs is absolutely necessary. The Freedom, on the other hand, would love to make more inroads with wickets.

The game has turned on its head. A modest target of 145 is looking a daunting one and the Orcas know any further slump can have poor ramifications. Imad Wasim and Nauman Anwar will have to build a partnership here.

SO: 43/3, 7.2 overs

Heinrich Klaasen is gone!! Moises Henriques joins the party and knocks the South African's poles. A slower delivery foes the trick and the Freedom are right back in the game. A monumental blow for the Orcas.

SO: 37/2

Out!! Another wicket falls. Shehan Jayasuriya is gone. Is the game turning on its head? Akeal Hosein gets his man in his first over and Moises Henriques completes the catch.

SO: 34/1, 6 overs

After the powerplay, the Orcas are currently going steady. They need 112 runs in the last 14 overs.

SO: 20/1, 3 overs

Quinton de Kock is Gone!! Anrich Nortje gets is compatriot and disturbs the poles.

Washington Freedeom have managed 144 for 7 at the end of their full quota of 20 overs. It has been a fantastic bowling performance from Seattle Orcas.

WF: 89/5, 12.1 overs

Wicket! Moises Henriques is out. Andrew Tye has picked up the wicket as the WF skipper looked to up the ante. Shimron Hetmyer completes a decent catch in the outfield.

Moises Henriques led Sydney Sixers to consecutive Big Bash challenge in 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. The Australian will be keen to replicate that with the Freeom side.

WF: 64/3 , 9 overs

Strategic TimeOut!! Washington Freedom are struggling but the good thing for them is that this pitch will get slower as the game progresses. It's important they get to somewhere around 150-mark and it may well be a competitive total.

WF: 45/3, 5 overs

Washington Freedom captain Moises Henriques at the crease. The Freedom skipper knows the importance of him staying at the crease after all the early wickets. It is to be seen how he approaches his inning. Not much batting left for the Freedom though.

WF: 45/3, 4.5 overs

Wicket!! Glenn Phillips is out. Heinrich Klaasen takes a decent catch as Gannon picks up the dangerous Kiwi. Phillips out for 20 off just 13 balls.

WF: 32/2, 3 overs

Excellent start from Glenn Phillips though. The Kiwi batter has made a positive start as Parnell's over ends up costing 16 runs.

WF: 16/2, 2.1 overs

Another blow for Washington Freedom as Mukhtar Ahmed goes for just 5 runs. Wayne Parnell gets a wicket on his first ball as Ahmed didn't offer a shot and was struck on the pad. Poor from the batter and WF in a bit trouble.

WF: 4/1

Wicket!! Imad Wasim strikes in the first over for Seattle Orcas. Matthew Short is cleaned up and Washington Freedom (WF) have lost a wicket in the first over.

We are underway. Imad Wasim is opening the bowling for Seattle Orcas and Andries Gous, Matthew Short open the batting for Washington Freedom.

Seattle Orcas Playing XI

Quinton De Kock, Nauman Anwar, Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, Imad Wasim, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shubham Ranjane, Cameron Gannon, Wayne Parnell, Harmeet Singh, Andrew Tye

Wayne Parnell words at the Toss

We will have a bowl first. Little unsure how the wicket will play. The first two games have been high scoring ones. We have some batters, a few all-rounders and a few specialist bowlers. Priviedged to lead a talented bunch of players

Washington Freedom Playing XI

Here is the Washington Freedom team who will play against Seattle Orcas

🇺🇸GAME TIME🏏

The XI for our very first Major League Cricket match.

🪙 We lost the toss and will bat 🏏 pic.twitter.com/5y4XALvMS5

— Washington Freedom (@WSHFreedom) July 15, 2023