[Watch] Glenn Maxwell smashes 103M maximum off in-form Hassan Khan during SFU-WAF 2024 MLC Qualifier
Washington Freedom (WAF) and Australian batter Glenn Maxwell produced a six-hitting exhibition in the 2024 Major League Cricket (MLC) Qualifier against San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) in Dallas on Thursday, July 25. Chasing 146 for victory and a place in the final, WAF lost captain Steve Smith and wicket-keeper Andries Gous for single-digit scores.
The tension was further raised when Rachin Ravindra fell for a dismal nine-ball 3 to leave WAF 64/3 in the ninth over. However, Maxwell joined a red-hot Travis Head (49* of 27 then) to forge a match-winning partnership.
The 'Big Show' took the attack to the tournament star, left-arm spinner Hassan Khan, who boasted figures of 2/4 in two overs until then. After smashing him for back-to-back sixes at the end of his third over, Maxwell saved the best for the end in Hassan's final over.
The swashbuckling Aussie batter smoked the first ball of his final over by clearing his front leg and hoisting a floaty outside off-stump delivery over the long-on region for a 103 meter six.
Here is a video of the same:
Maxwell wasn't done yet as he smashed a fourth six of the Karachi-born spinner to propel WAF to 135/3 in 15 overs.
He eventually completed the formalities in the next over by clobbering Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf for 14 off three deliveries to seal a seven-wicket victory with nearly five overs to spare.
Maxwell's heroics lead WAF to MLC 2024 final
Glenn Maxwell's breathtaking 23-ball 54*, including five maximums and four boundaries, saw WAF through to the final of the 2024 MLC season.
It was his first half-century of the tournament, taking his overall tally to 113 at an average of 37.66 and a strike rate of 159.15 in seven games. Despite Maxwell's late-game heroics, Travis Head was the batting star, scoring an unbeaten 77 off 44 deliveries.
WAF topped the points table during the group stages with five wins in six completed matches (one No-Result). They will now await the winner of the Challenger between SFH and Texas Super Kings (TSK) on Friday, July 26.
The summit clash will be played at the same venue (Dallas) on Sunday, July 28.