Washington vs SF, Final at Dallas, MLC, Jul 28 2024 - Match Result

11:35pm That brings us to the end of our coverage for tonight and for this season of the MLC. It was a pleasure bringing all the action to you, and we hope to have your company for all the other cricket that is going on in different parts of the world. Until next time, this is goodbye from Binoy, me and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

11:30pm Smith, moments after chatting to Pommie Mbangwa, heads down the aisle to where his teammates are waiting. And now....the celebrations begin. Washington Freedom, the champions of the MLC, and they have been worth every bit of their triumph. From the openers to the middle order to the bowlers, everything has been in pristine condition from the start, and after three and a half weeks of cricket, it is the best team that will go back home, adorned as champions.

Steve Smith, the Washington Freedom captain is also the Player of the Final: (On how pleasing it is to bat that way in the final) Nice to contribute, been a really good season, have enjoyed leading these boys. Had a great time off the field, played plenty of golf. Had a really good time. We just talked about trusting our processes, especially in the playoffs. Playing the moment, playing each ball and not getting overawed. Really pleased for the boys, been a fun season. Some guys don't get a game but they are a part of the squad and we try to make them feel a part of the squad. It can be hard and challenging. But everyone has had each other's backs in this group. Everyone stood up at different times. Our batting was strong. Don't think Marco even got a bat, batting at 8 and that showed how our top order and Travis at the top (batted). Made things easier for me. Netravalkar was outstanding, Lockie was outstanding. Everyone stood up at pressure moments throughout the tournament.

Washington Freedom's Travis Head is the Player of the Tournament: I guess it is nice to be on a roll. Nice to keep the form going. Looking forward to a few weeks off now. (On his routine) It is pretty simple. A few of the boys are laughing (at the back). Few afternoon naps, see what the bowlers are going to have and then see (what I can do). Challenging coming into a new group. You want to perform, build relationships. Have learnt over the years to just be myself. Had a brilliant time (off the field) and that went into how we played on the field. He (Smith) went beautifully. We batted pretty well. When I missed out, he was able to get us off to a flier and vice versa. Nice to have a familiar face at the other end.

Faf du Plessis finishes the season as the highest run-scorer. Saurabh Netravalkar, meanwhile, is the leading wicket-taker in the 2024 edition of the MLC.

San Francisco Unicorns' Hassan Khan is the Domestic Player of the Tournament: It has been a wonderful tournament for me. Happy to contribute for the team. I was fortunate enough to get some time to play my strokes early on and then keep batting. (On his strength) I guess it is natural (laughs). I was a bowling all-rounder but thanks to Watto (Shane Watson) and the management, they gave me an opportunity to bat higher. They are greats of the game and having Pat Cummins in the dressing room was a great experience and hopefully I can use that (experience).

Corey Anderson, San Francisco Unicorns captain: (On the game) Extremely disappointed. You turn up and have aspirations of winning the trophy. We were well off the mark (tonight). (On the bowling in the middle overs) I think it is tough when you try to focus on one or two guys. Match-winners throughout and Smudge had a good day, Maxi too. They are some of the best players in the world. I think our plans were fine but we did not execute the way we needed to. We were still confident (at the half-way stage). Chasing that kind of total, you need a couple of boys to raise their hand and stand up. We faded very quickly in the piece. Don't want to take anything away from how we played in the competition. The two best teams were playing the final. Really proud of how the boys played this season and looking forward (to the next edition). I just think we had more guys put their hands up. This competition is going to go from strength to strength. The domestic players are also getting better playing against them (some of the best international players).

Saurabh Netravalkar: Really grateful for the platform, to play alongside such top-quality stars. Really proud of the attitude we have shown as a team. This could be the backbone of our domestic cricket. you can see the fan base increasing. Love playing here every year and looking forward (to next year already).

Andrew Tye: We had a fantastic start this year. Saurabh led from the front. Picking the brains of everyone, it was amazing. Credit to the setup and it is a testament to how hard we worked.

Ricky Ponting, Washington Freedom head coach: We have a terrific group of people. The guys are spending a lot of time together, learning and talking cricket. Told them I had a feeling it would take a really good team to beat them. Thrilled for these guys. They stuck together, played great cricket and deserved to be champions. He (Smith) has been absolutely brilliant. The way he played, he single-handedly won us this game. I told him before that if he played well, showed his class, he could win us the game. Really, really close group of people and that shone through. (On the MLC) I had a ball. Had a really enjoyable month. The conditions we have had, have been outstanding. The way you can judge this tournament is from the players that are playing. These are two very good cricket teams and they (the players) would want to come back again.

Rachin Ravindra: Pretty cool crew to be a part of. They know how to win. (Learning from the other foreign players) Not just how they play, but also how they carry themselves off the field. (On his bowling and what led to its success) The trust from the skipper and the support staff to throw me the ball. That is the thing about T20 - being able to contribute with bat and ball, was not able to do much with the bat. We gelled really well off the field. Had lots of fun. It was a testament to the boys up top who set up this environment and everyone who bought into it.

Akeal Hosein: It was a total team effort this year. Good performance, happy for the win. It was definitely fun, gelling together with some of the best in the world. To see guys like Smith and Maxwell and then pick things up from then in the nets and the dressing room. (On the MLC) It is heading in the right direction. In years to come, when it will be played in different cities, it will be even better.

Jasdeep Singh: (On his experience this season) Experience was very great. You cannot ask for a better finish than to be champion. Happy I was able to contribute in those two games (I played). Really happy for everyone. Happy I could get two in two (championships). (On him being a lucky charm) I guess so. It is the hard work and preparation everyone puts behind it. Pretty stoked to be here, lifting the cup in a few minutes. I certainly have learnt a lot in the last few weeks and looking forward to implement it in the coming games and do even better.

Andries Gous: It has been awesome, you dream of this moment. Really happy to be part of this unbelievable team. (On batting with Head and Smith) Something we can only dream of. This is what MLC brings for us. Could not be prouder, unbelievable moment. Every time we have played, they (the fans) have been awesome, thank you for coming. (On the MLC) Everyone wants to come to the US now and hopefully this brings more international teams and brings the level of the domestic players up.

10:55pm Washington Freedom were the first to qualify. They were the first to get to the final. And Washington Freedom, fittingly, have won this contest. At an absolute canter too, which is symbolic of how dominant they have been throughout the season. What shone through, though, was how they adapted to the big occasion, even as their opposition floundered and fumbled.

Washington, remember, were put under pressure early in their batting innings. But a captain's knock rescued them and dared them to dream, which ultimately became reality courtesy a complete bowling display, led by Jansen.

A really, really bad day at the office for the Unicorns and the worst day for it to happen. They did their best impression of Murphy's Law, with everything that could go wrong going wrong. They were bundled out for 111 and after the season they had, where they only lost twice heading into tonight, that feels an anti-climactic and underwhelming end.

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