Andries Gous has done it once again, playing a crucial knock in the Challenger of the MLC 2026, where Washington Freedom seal 7-run victory against San Francisco Unicorns at Oakland.
His 73 runs off 40 deliveries have set up Washington Freedom to post a massive run total in scoreboard, as Freedom successfully defended the target, sealing their spot in the finals.
Being invited to bat first, Freedom’s Mitch Owen and Steve Smith put up a solid start scoring 83 runs for the 1st wicket.
Hassan Khan threw the breakthrough dismissing Owen for 42 runs. Following him Steve Smith went back to dug out for 43 runs.
Andried Gous who came to bat at No.4 put up a solid stand. However, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Maxwell did put up small partnerships before their dismissal.
In the meantime, Andrie Gous smashed fifty and went on to score 73 runs before his dismissal by Bartlett.
With Nikhil Chaudhary and Ben Dwarshuis adding up runs to the board, Washington Freedom scored 238 runs in their 20 over innings.
Xavier Bartlett bagged three wickets while Ghulam Mudassar bagged two wickets in their spells respectively.
Player of the Match: Andries Gous 👏
Gous’ 73 off 40 balls helped secure Washington Freedom’s spot in the MLC Championship Finals 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QqEYFqAHM5
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 17, 2026
Chasing a 239 run target, San Francisco Unicorns made a shaky start losing both the openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen.
Only Matthew Short took a solid stance while Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Aaron Hardie, Hassan Khan and Hammad Azam lost wickets on intervals.
Meantime, Matthew Short smashed fifty and went on to smash hundred. Xavier Bartlett addedup 28* runs off 13 deliveries. However, San Francisco Unicorns scored 231 runs and suffered a 7-run defeat missing their spot in finals.
Matthew Short remained unbeaten with 121 runs but it was not enough to seal their spot in finals.
Andries Gous was named Palyer of the Match. Speaking on the post match presentation, Gous said, “I genuinely love this team. I want to do well for our owner, do well for our coaches. The team is close to my heart and that’s where all the motivation comes from. We know the wicket – how it’s going to play at night. Got to keep pressing and putting them under pressure.”
“Always nice playing finals. Our third one now. Hopefully we can go one step further than last year and win it again. Obviously feels like you have dropped the whole tournament in that moment (his missed run out). Our owner nearly had a heart attack there. Luckily it worked out,” concluded Gous.
