Marcus Stoinis reminded everyone just how lethal he can be as a power-hitter in T20 cricket with an electrifying performance for the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. The Australian all-rounder turned the game on its head in just a few minutes, smashing five sixes off six balls during the 17th over against Ian Holland. After a bit of a slow start, Stoinis unleashed a barrage of clean hitting, transforming a competitive score into an intimidating one. His late-game fireworks left the Washington Freedom with a steep hill to climb, paving the way for a resounding 88-run victory at the Oakland Coliseum.
Stoinis stepped up to the crease after Matthew Breetzke was dismissed, with Seattle sitting at 138/3. He had only managed four runs from his first six balls before launching an incredible counterattack. In the 17th over against Ian Holland, he sent the ball over the boundary five times, racking up 30 runs with a sequence of 6, 6, 6, 6, 0, 6. This explosive display catapulted his score from 4 off 6 balls to a remarkable 34 off 12. He even added another six against Marco Jansen before being dismissed for a blistering 42 off just 16 balls. His partnership of 51 runs in a mere 20 balls with Shimron Hetmyer propelled Seattle to a commanding total of 227/6.
Seattle Orcas Crush Washington Freedom by 88 Runs to Climb Into Top Two
Shimron Hetmyer kept the momentum going right to the end, finishing with a stunning 79 runs off just 33 balls, which included an impressive nine sixes. Tim Seifert also made a valuable contribution with 37 runs. On the bowling side, Marco Jansen stood out for Washington, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs. However, the late fireworks from Hetmyer and Stoinis pushed the total to a level that was just too high to chase.
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When it came time for Washington Freedom to bat, they never really found their footing after a shaky start. Captain Steve Smith was out in the second over, quickly followed by Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous. Jasdeep Singh then took charge, tearing through the middle order by dismissing both Glenn Maxwell and Jack Edwards in the same over, ultimately finishing with a fantastic five-wicket haul of 5 for 24. Washington found themselves in a dire situation at 50 for 7, and despite some late efforts from Ian Holland (26), Marco Jansen (20), and an unbeaten Amila Aponso (31), they were all out for just 139 runs in 16.2 overs.
This victory propelled the Seattle Orcas to second place in the MLC 2026 points table, trailing only the undefeated Los Angeles Knight Riders. While Hetmyer was the top scorer for his team, it was Stoinis’ explosive burst of five sixes that truly turned the tide. His remarkable 30-run over not only broke Washington’s momentum but also transformed Seattle’s innings, marking a pivotal moment in a thoroughly dominant performance.
