Steve Smith’s first-ever century in Major League Cricket propelled the Washington Freedom to an incredible victory, marking the highest successful run chase in men’s T20 history as they took down the defending champions, MI New York, in a thrilling MLC 2026 Eliminator at the Oakland Coliseum. Facing a daunting target of 267, the Australian superstar anchored the innings with an unbeaten century, while Andries Gous matched his intensity with a powerful performance at the other end. Their combined efforts led Washington to a remarkable 270/4, finishing with eight balls to spare and clinching a memorable six-wicket win. This result not only eliminated MI New York from the tournament but also kept the Freedom’s dreams of a title alive.
This matchup was a rematch of last season’s MLC final, which MI New York had won, and it added another exciting chapter to their rivalry. Smith remained not out at 110 off just 48 balls, smashing seven fours and nine sixes as Washington completed the chase in a mere 18.4 overs. With this achievement, they surpassed the Punjab Kings’ previous record of 265 against the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, setting a new standard in men’s T20 cricket.
From 10/2 to 270: Steve Smith and Andries Gous Rewrite T20 History in Oakland
Washington’s chase got off to a rocky start when Mitchell Owen was dismissed for just one run, quickly followed by Rachin Ravindra, leaving the team in a tough spot at 10/2. But then, Smith and Gous took charge and completely turned the game around. The duo put together an incredible 241-run partnership for the third wicket in just 89 balls, marking one of the largest partnerships in T20 history and ultimately deciding the match.
Gous delivered the performance of a lifetime, smashing 132 runs off just 51 balls, which included 10 fours and a whopping 12 sixes. With this, he became the first player from the USA to score a century in the MLC. Smith kept pace with him, reaching his own hundred in a blistering 40 balls, making it the fastest century of his career and his seventh in T20 cricket.
Earlier in the match, MI New York seemed poised for an even higher score after Nicholas Pooran unleashed a stunning 106 runs off just 33 balls, featuring 13 sixes, which set a record for the fastest century in MLC history. Kieron Pollard contributed 64 runs from 25 balls, also hitting the milestone of 1,000 T20 sixes, while Quinton de Kock added 51 runs from 24 balls. Ravindra’s impressive bowling performance of 4/29 helped rein in the scoring towards the end of the innings, proving crucial for the final outcome.
The match was a spectacle, producing 51 sixes and becoming the first men’s T20 game to feature three centuries. Now, Washington Freedom is gearing up to face the San Francisco Unicorns in Eliminator 2, with a spot in the final against the Los Angeles Knight Riders on the line.
