Shanaka’s All-Round Brilliance Powers Orcas Past Freedom in 435-Run MLC Thriller

Seattle Orcas won by 5 wickets (with 14 balls remaining) in the 3rd match of 34 in Major League Cricket 2026 at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. In a match that produced 435 runs, Dasun Shanaka delivered a stunning all-round display – 36 not out off 12 balls with the bat (SR 300) and 3/44 with the ball – to drag the Orcas to their first win from two matches.

First Innings – Washington Freedom 216 all out (20 overs)

Mitchell Owen gave the Freedom a flying start with 61 off 25 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes, SR 244), putting on 82 for the first wicket before falling caught at 82 in over 6.1. Steven Smith (24 off 20) anchored the other end but fell lbw at 94 in over 8.2. Mark Chapman took over with a destructive 57 off 24 (5 fours, 4 sixes, SR 238), sharing a crucial stand with Andries Gous (35 off 21). The pair pushed the total past 170 before Gous was bowled at 179 in over 14.3. Glenn Maxwell was cleaned up for a golden duck next ball at 179, and the innings fell apart from there. Chapman was caught at 183 in over 15.3, and the tail could add only 33 more.

Ottneil Baartman was outstanding with 4/33 from 4 overs (Econ 8.25), while Shanaka took 3/44 from 4 overs. Jasdeep Singh chipped in with 2/46, and Harmeet Singh contributed 1/38.

Second Innings – Seattle Orcas 219/5 (17.4 overs)

Tim Seifert lit up the chase with a magnificent 78 off 33 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes, SR 236). Shayan Jahangir departed early for 17 off 9 at 52 in over 3.2, but Seifert found an excellent partner in Matthew Breetzke, who smashed 66 off 36 (6 fours, 4 sixes, SR 183). Their partnership took the chase to 141 before Seifert fell caught at 141 in over 10.6. Shimron Hetmyer (0 off 2) and Tim Robinson (10 off 8) fell cheaply, and when Breetzke was caught at 171 in over 13.3, the Orcas still needed 46 from 39 balls. Enter Shanaka – 36 not out off just 12 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 300 sealed the deal with 14 balls to spare.

Ian Holland was the Freedom’s best bowler with 2/20 from 3.4 overs (Econ 5.45), while Saurabh Netravalkar took 2/35 from 3 overs. Marco Jansen (1/52) and Lockie Ferguson (0/57) were expensive.

Statz MVP

The Statz MVP is Dasun Shanaka with a match impact rating of 139.92. Statz calculates impact based on match context, and Shanaka’s combined contribution of 36* off 12 with the bat (SR 300) and 3/44 with the ball produced the highest match impact in the game. The official Man of the Match went to Ottneil Baartman for his 4/33 – Statz disagrees, rating Shanaka’s all-round impact higher.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Dasun Shanaka (SO) – MI rating 139.92 – 36* off 12 (SR 300) plus 3/44, the complete all-round display.
2. Tim Seifert (SO) – MI rating 102.20 – 78 off 33 (SR 236), set the chase alight with 7 fours and 6 sixes.
3. Ottneil Baartman (SO) – MI rating 100.00 – 4/33 from 4 overs, the official Man of the Match.
4. Mitchell Owen (WSF) – MI rating 99.24 – 61 off 25 (SR 244), electric start to the Freedom innings.
5. Mark Chapman (WSF) – MI rating 89.31 – 57 off 24 (SR 238), kept the run rate soaring through the middle overs.

Turning Point

The back-to-back wickets at 179 in over 14.3-14.4 – Andries Gous bowled and Glenn Maxwell cleaned up for a golden duck next ball – robbed the Freedom of momentum at the death. A total pushing 240+ suddenly stalled at 216, and the Orcas’ target became very manageable.

Match Context

This was the 3rd match of 34 in the MLC 2026 Regular Season. Seattle Orcas sit 3rd (W1 L1, 2 pts, NRR +0.304) after bouncing back from an opening defeat. Washington Freedom are 6th (W0 L1, 0 pts, NRR -1.596) – the only team yet to register a win after their opening fixture.

Full scorecard: SO vs WSF Scorecard