The first place in the Major League Cricket final will be secured on Thursday night when the top two in the table battle it out in Qualifier 1 in Dallas when the Washington Freedom go up against the San Francisco Unicorns.
The Freedom dominated the early stages of this tournament but San Francisco downed them in what was a dead rubber in the last game for both sides so it will be interesting to see if that form holds up or whether the Freedom show why they topped the table.
Washington Freedom
The Washington Freedom had gone through the entire league phase of the competition without losing until they ran into the San Francisco Unicorns in the last game but a defeat in that one might not be a bad thing because it is incredibly rare for a team to go the whole tournament without losing at this level. It was better to come then rather than here even though this isn’t a knockout match as the schedule gives the winner of this one more of an advantage in the final.
The Freedom have had the best bowling attack in the competition so far but it went the distance in a big way last time out, although they will be quick to point out that the ball was wet after the rain which came in the middle of the match. Even then to concede two a ball over the best part of 14 overs was a bit of a surprise. The good news for Washington is that they are batting well so if the bowling can get back to doing what it was they should still be fine.
San Francisco Unicorns
The San Francisco Unicorns were always the second best team in the first part of the competition but they really announced themselves as title challengers with their win over the Washington Freedom on Monday night and if they can double down on that win here they would definitely go into the final at the weekend as the favourites to win the title. They were fortunate that the rain came when it did but they made the most of that advantage.
Their batting proved that it can deliver the goods even with Matthew Short having left the competition and that can’t be a bad thing and they beat the Freedom without a run from Finn Allen or Sherfane Rutherford so San Francisco still have more to come in this match. Their bowling went around the park in the previous match but there was no Pat Cummins in that game so they have someone to come in and sort that.
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Key Players
Steve Smith blasted a very quick 50 in the previous game between these two teams and if he can do that then the rest will score quickly enough around him that a big score can be put on the board for the Washington Freedom.
Josh Inglis came to the party when the San Francisco Unicorns needed it the most in the previous game between these two and the Unicorns will be hoping that has launched some form which he can keep for the rest of the competition.
Betting
The sixes came in for me in the Eliminator on Wednesday and I see no reason why they won’t come in here too where the line is only one higher at 13.5. These are two very aggressive batting units who have really taken the game to the opposition in every match they have played but especially here in Dallas and given that there isn’t any knockout pressure on this contest you’ve got to think that will be a formula both will continue with.
I would expect the bowling to be better than when these two last met but even then before the rain came Washington Freedom had hit 12 sixes and still had 27 balls of their innings left with plenty of batting to come. San Francisco have shown throughout the tournament that they are capable of big hits and pretty regularly through the innings as well so I would have put this line a little higher. We know the boundaries here are accessible so I’ll take the over.
Tips
Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Betway
