Baartman knocks Freedom down before Orcas batters complete comprehensive win
MLC 2026: Seattle Orcas Cruise to Victory After Baartman’s Bowling Heroics
The 2026 season of Major League Cricket (MLC) continues to deliver high-scoring spectacles, reinforcing the early-season trend of chasing teams dominating the competition. On Friday night in Dallas, fans witnessed yet another run-fest as the Seattle Orcas successfully chased down Washington Freedom’s imposing total of 216. With 14 balls remaining, the Orcas completed a comfortable five-wicket victory. The match featured four outstanding half-centuries and an incredible late-innings cameo, but the ultimate honors went to the bowler who changed the course of the match: Ottneil Baartman.
Washington Freedom’s Explosive Start
Opting to bat first, Washington Freedom looked poised to post a mammoth total. Mitchell Owen set the tone early at the top of the order, unleashing a brutal assault on the Orcas’ bowling attack. Owen smashed 61 runs off just 25 deliveries, providing the perfect launchpad despite a relatively sedate 24 off 20 balls from captain Steven Smith.
Following the departures of the openers, Mark Chapman and Andries Gous kept the momentum firmly in Freedom’s favor. The duo put on a masterclass of aggressive T20 batting. By the beginning of the 15th over, Washington Freedom had cruised to 175 for 2, operating at a staggering run rate of 12.50. Chapman was batting beautifully on 51 off just 21 balls, while Gous supported him superbly with 31 off 18 deliveries. With six overs remaining, a final score well beyond 240 seemed heavily on the cards.
The Turning Point: Ottneil Baartman’s Double-Strike
It was at this critical juncture that Ottneil Baartman produced two overs of the highest quality, completely altering the trajectory of the innings. Introduced back into the attack for the 15th over, Baartman struck gold. On his third delivery, he clean-bowled the dangerous Andries Gous for 35. The very next ball, Baartman produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss the incoming superstar Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck, rattling his stumps and sending shockwaves through the Freedom dugout.
The pressure intensified in the following over when Harmeet Singh accounted for Mark Chapman, who departed for a brilliant 57. Baartman returned for the 17th over to put the final nails in the coffin. He induced an edge from Obus Pienaar, who was caught at short third man off the second ball, and concluded the over by clean-bowling Marco Jansen off the inside edge off the final delivery. This three-over block cost the Orcas a mere 18 runs while yielding five crucial wickets, effectively breaking the back of the Freedom batting lineup.
From a position of absolute dominance, Washington Freedom faltered, managing only 31 runs in the final four overs to finish at 216 all out. Baartman ended his magnificent spell with figures of 4 for 33. He was ably supported by Dasun Shanaka, who claimed 3 for 44, and Jasdeep Singh, who chipped in with 2 for 46.
The Seattle Orcas Chase: Seifert and Breetzke Stand Tall
Chasing 217 on a pitch clearly tailored for batting, the Orcas needed a strong start, and they got exactly that. Shayan Jahangir played a brief but impactful cameo, scoring 17 runs off 9 balls as part of a rapid 52-run opening partnership in just 3.2 overs.
Once Jahangir departed, Tim Seifert and Matthew Breetzke put on a batting masterclass. Seifert was already in top gear, having raced to 35 off just 11 deliveries. Breetzke joined him, and the pair dismantled the Freedom bowling attack, putting together an 89-run partnership in a mere 46 balls. Seifert eventually fell on the final delivery of the 11th over for a game-high 78 off 33 balls, leaving the Orcas in a commanding position at 141 for 2.
Shanaka Finishes in Style
A brief middle-order hiccup threatened to derail the chase as Breetzke (66 off 36 balls), Shimron Hetmyer, and Tim Robinson fell within a space of nine deliveries. However, Dasun Shanaka stepped up to ensure there would be no late drama. Shanaka played a blistering innings, smashing an unbeaten 36 off just 12 deliveries at a strike rate of 300.00. His explosive finish guided the Seattle Orcas home with more than two overs to spare, sealing an emphatic five-wicket win.
For Washington Freedom, Ian Holland (2-20) and Saurabh Netravalkar (2-35) were the pick of the bowlers, but they ultimately lacked the defensive spearhead needed to contain the Orcas’ batting powerhouse on a batting-friendly Dallas surface.
