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Steve Smith played one of those best T20 innings you can think of, and Washington Freedom somehow pulled off the biggest successful run chase in men’s T20 history, just to stay alive in the 2026 Major League Cricket MLC season.

 

So, they were chasing 267 against MI New York at the Oakland Coliseum, and Washington Freedom got there with 270/4 in 18.4 overs, winning with eight balls left. This chase beat the previous men’s T20 record that Punjab Kings had set earlier this year, when they chased 265.

 

And Smith, well he stayed not out on 110 off 48 balls, with nine sixes, and he hit his century in only 40 balls too. That was the fastest hundred of his career, in any format, which is kinda wild.

 

Smith and Gous sort of Turn the Match Around

 

Washington Freedom were actually in a bit of early trouble after Mitch Owen went for 1 and Rachin Ravindra for 6, they slid to 10/2. But then Steve Smith and USA batter Andries Gous took control, completely.

 

The two stitched together 241 runs for the third wicket, that’s the highest third-wicket stand in T20 history, and also the second-biggest partnership for any wicket in the whole format.

 

Gous then also made history, becoming the first domestic player to score a century in Major League Cricket. He remained unbeaten on 132 off 51 balls and smashed 12 sixes. Smith and Gous moved the score from 10/2 to 251/3, and then Glenn Maxwell finished it off with a six.

 

After the win Smith had plenty to say about his partner.

 

Smith said:

 

"It was insane striking up the other end, 'Gousey' was unbelievable from ball one."

"He just came out and it felt like he didn't miss the middle of the bat the whole night, and everything just kept flying over the rope. I had the best seat in the house up there.

"We obviously got off to a little bit of a shaky start, and then the ball just started to hit the middle of both of our bats. Fortunately, they kept going over the rope and we gave ourselves a chance at the back-end.

"It was a great partnership with 'Gousey' and to chase down (267) anytime, that's a special achievement."

 

Pooran’s Hundred kind of Goes in Vain

 

Earlier, MI New York put up 266/9, with Nicholas Pooran doing the damage using a stunning hundred. He reached three figures in just 31 balls, which is equal sixth-fastest in men’s T20 history.

 

Pooran made 106 runs and struck 13 sixes. Kieron Pollard chimed in with 64 off 25 balls, including eight sixes. The whole game had 536 runs in only 38.4 overs, and both teams smashed a shared record of 51 sixes.

 

It was also the first time in a men’s T20 match that three batters actually scored centuries in the same game.

 

Also Read | Watch: Gus Atkinson Drops Easy Rohit Sharma Catch as Ball Races Away for Four in IND vs ENG 2nd ODI

 

Washington Freedom Stay Alive

 

This victory keeps Washington Freedom right in the mix for the MLC title. Ricky Ponting’s group has now reached the Challenger, where they’ll face the San Francisco Unicorns. If they win that, they’ll go on to meet the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the final.

 

San Francisco, though, had already lost the Qualifier earlier, even with captain Matt Short staying unbeaten on 94. They came up seven runs short against Los Angeles.

 

Steve Smith’s Records from this match

 

• Fastest century of his career, across any format (40 balls).
• His seventh T20 century.
• Finished unbeaten on 110 off 48 balls.
• Helped Washington Freedom complete the highest successful run chase in men’s T20 history, 270/4 chasing 267.
• Shared a 241-run partnership with Andries Gous, the highest third-wicket stand in T20 history.
• Improved on his previous fastest T20 hundred of 41 balls for Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder.
• Became one of the three centurions in the first men’s T20 match that featured three centuries.