MLC- Eliminator 2, 16 July 2026- Washington Freedom Edge San Francisco Unicorns Despite Matthew Short’s Stunning Century

Washington Freedom Post a Massive Total 238

After being asked to bat first, Washington Freedom's top order came out firing from the very first over.

Opener Mitchell Owen smashed 42 off just 19 balls, hitting five sixes and setting the tone.
Captain Steven Smith continued the momentum with a classy 43 from 20 deliveries.
Rachin Ravindra added a quick 28 off 14 balls, keeping the scoring rate above 12 runs per over.

The star of the innings was wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous, who played a magnificent knock of 73 runs from 40 balls, striking eight boundaries and three sixes. His innings ensured Washington maintained pressure throughout the innings.

Late cameos from All-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary (20)* and Ben Dwarshuis (11 off 4) powered Washington Freedom to an imposing 238/6 in 20 overs.

San Francisco Bowling

The Unicorns struggled to contain the explosive batting.

Xavier Bartlett: 3/36
Ghulam Mudassar: 2/32

While these two picked up wickets, the remaining bowlers proved expensive as Washington consistently found boundaries.

Matthew Short Produces a Captain's Knock

Chasing 239, San Francisco Unicorns lost early wickets as Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen departed inside the powerplay.

Captain Matthew Short then produced one of the finest innings of the MLC season.

He blasted an unbeaten 121 from just 56 balls, smashing:

11 fours
8 sixes
Strike Rate: 216.07

Short almost single-handedly kept the chase alive with fearless stroke play, keeping the required rate within reach despite wickets falling around him.

Contributions from:

Hassan Khan – 21 (16)
Xavier Bartlett – 28 (13)*

gave San Francisco hope during the final overs, but the target ultimately proved just out of reach.

The Unicorns finished on 231/6, falling 7 runs short of a remarkable chase.

Washington Bowlers Hold Their Nerve

Although defending 238 looked difficult on a batting-friendly surface, Washington's bowlers delivered at key moments.

Ben Dwarshuis: 2/44
Saurabh Netravalkar: 1/35
Mitchell Owen: 1/57
Rachin Ravindra: 1/27
Nikhil Chaudhary: 1/32

Their timely breakthroughs prevented Matthew Short from finding enough support during the chase.

Match Highlights
Washington Freedom: 238/6 (20 overs)
San Francisco Unicorns: 231/6 (20 overs)
Washington Freedom won by 7 runs
Player of the Match: Matthew Short's unbeaten 121 was extraordinary despite ending in a losing cause, while Andries Gous' 73 and Washington's collective batting laid the foundation for victory.
Key Performers
Washington Freedom
Andries Gous – 73 (40)
Steven Smith – 43 (20)
Mitchell Owen – 42 (19)
Rachin Ravindra – 28 (14)
San Francisco Unicorns
Matthew Short – 121* (56)
Xavier Bartlett – 28* (13)
Hassan Khan – 21 (16)
Final Thoughts

Eliminator 2 showed everything fans love about modern T20 cricket—explosive batting, relentless momentum shifts, and a thrilling finish. Washington Freedom's explosive batting display proved just enough to overcome an unforgettable century from Matthew Short, whose heroic innings nearly pulled off one of the greatest run chases in MLC history.

With this victory, Washington Freedom advance in the MLC 2026 playoffs, while the San Francisco Unicorns bow out after an incredible contest that will be remembered as one of the tournament's finest matches.