Nikhil Chaudhary breaks Texas Super Kings hearts with match-winning six in final-ball

Washington Freedom produced one of the most dramatic finishes in Major League Cricket history, edging past the Texas Super Kings by one wicket off the final ball of the match in Match 13 of the 2026 season at the Oakland Coliseum.With five runs required off the final delivery, Nikhil Chaudhary held his nerve and launched Akeal Hosein over the ropes for a match-winning six, completing a remarkable chase of 186 and sealing a memorable victory after Freedom had looked certain to throw the game away.

Texas Super Kings finish strongly after slow start

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Texas Super Kings endured an early setback when captain Faf du Plessis departed for just 8. Saiteja Mukkamalla (37) and Rilee Rossouw (34) rebuilt the innings with a steady partnership, but the scoring rate remained under control through the middle overs.The momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages as Donovan Ferreira and Wiaan Mulder unleashed a brutal counterattack. Ferreira smashed 44 off just 20 balls, including five sixes, while Mulder remained unbeaten on 43 from 20 deliveries, striking four sixes. Their explosive finish lifted Texas to a formidable 185/4 from 20 overs.

Mitchell Owen's blitz puts Freedom in control

Washington Freedom's chase got off to a flying start thanks to Mitchell Owen, who played a breathtaking innings of 77 off 35 balls, hammering seven fours and six sixes. Alongside captain Steve Smith (30), Owen added vital runs at the top as Freedom raced to 112/2 in just 10 overs, appearing to cruise towards victory.

However, Owen's dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse. The middle order crumbled under sustained pressure from the Texas bowlers, turning what had looked like a straightforward chase into a nail-biting contest.

Akeal Hosein's hat-trick almost steals the game

Needing just six runs in the final over with four wickets in hand, Washington Freedom were overwhelming favourites. But Akeal Hosein produced a sensational spell under pressure, claiming a stunning hat-trick and finishing with 4/36 to leave the visitors reeling.

His heroics reduced Freedom to nine wickets down, with the equation boiling down to five runs needed off the final ball.With the match hanging by a thread, Nikhil Chaudhary delivered the decisive blow. Showing remarkable composure, he cleared the boundary with a towering six off the final delivery, sealing a thrilling one-wicket victory and denying Hosein what would have been one of the greatest match-winning spells in MLC history.