Washington vs Texas, 17th Match at Dallas, MLC, Jul 19 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11:25pm That will be all from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage and be sure to join us tomorrow for more MLC action. Until next time, this is goodbye from Chandan, me and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Jasdeep Singh, Player of the Match: Emotions are pretty high right now. Just here, expressing myself and enjoying myself. We have a gem of a support staff. Smudge (Smith) and Lockie are a great help and keep helping my out. Trying to keep it simple, follow the plan and execute it. The wicket was two-paced. I just wanted to do what I did in the first game. The idea was to bowl to the bigger side if someone was going well. If you keep mixing it up, it is pretty helpful. The over Lockie bowled before me, I was at third man and I was watching. Faf was struggling (trying to hit to the bigger side) and I thought of doing the same thing. Smudge made it very clear (on what to do) and that sort of clarity helps.

Steve Smith, Washington Freedom captain: We are just getting better and better as the tournament has gone on. Travis has been unbelievable getting us to starts on some slow wickets. Bowlers have done a good job defending. Spinners were really good, Jasdeep was really good. Ferguson has been magnificent, Marco too. (On what has been the secret to their success) We are just training really hard and are training in positions they (the players) are likely to come in. Good vibes around the group and we have locked away the top two and that is exciting. Looking forward to the rest (of the games). (On Jasdeep Singh) He has exceeded expectations, he has been magnificent. Stuck to his plans nicely, executed what I wanted him to executed. Took them (batters) to the bigger side and did that beautifully.

Faf du Plessis, Texas Super Kings captain: (On where they lost it) What they have done really well in the powerplay is put you under pressure. Travis Head has been doing that often this season, so it was about getting him out somehow. They were looking good for 220 at one stage. First six-seven overs (in the run chase), we were in control. Then for a little period, it felt it got a little slower, and then a cluster of wickets (in a 200 chase does not help). Up until a point, we played it really well. (On the bowling attack) Resources wise, we don't have guys who can bowl 140-145, so it is about finding ways. Maxi (Maxwell) is a good player of spin but someone like Noor is as good a bowler as any at a batter. (On the middle order not firing) You are one innings away from feeling that confidence. Luckily for us, we have gone well, still sitting pretty in the competition. You can almost just let it flow and hopefully we can play really well (in our last game). (On his batting and what has been key) Rhythm. Sometimes while batting, rhythm is a fight. When you are feeling well, you just have to cash in. I want to treat that with respect, keep doing the hard work and hopefully the form can continue.

Travis Head: (On his batting approach) I just watch the ball hard and try to react to it. Bit of momentum from the last few games. When you are feeling good, you don't want to waste it. Maximising the powerplay - that is sort of my job for the team. We felt it (the pitch) was going to take spin later, so it was about scoring as many in the powerplay as possible. It was a good wicket, probably on the slower side. (On how they can keep the momentum going) Staying relaxed, have been doing it for a couple of months in a row. Couple of days off, try to mentally relax and then go at it again.

11:01pm A fairly comfortable win in the end for Washington Freedom. That was not always the case, though. TSK ransacked 76 runs in the powerplay, turbocharged by their skipper du Plessis. He lost rhythm post the powerplay, however, and that sort of personified the Super Kings' problems, who also lost steam once the field spread out. There was a cameo towards the end by Savage but that merely reduced the margin of defeat, rather than acting as a catalyst for a turnaround.

Washington, on the other hand, held their nerve brilliantly. They were put under the cosh early but found a way to tie down the batters, often using the dimensions to their advantage. Ravindra was brilliant in the middle overs. Jasdeep was spectacular throughout, and Maxwell continued his happy knack of taking wickets. Ferguson did not pick a wicket tonight but rarely offered up any freebies, which meant the pressure was never released and ultimately led to a convincing victory.

Zia is the last batter in

Six legal balls and Washington Freedom will seal a top-two berth. Ravindra to bowl

Ferguson to bowl the penultimate over. 46 needed off 12. TSK might want to reduce the margin of defeat for NRR purposes

Noor joins Savage