Major League Cricket’s high-scoring eliminator between MI New York and Washington Freedom not only witnessed a record-breaking run chase but also produced a tense moment between Kieron Pollard and Steve Smith. The two experienced campaigners exchanged words during Washington Freedom’s successful chase of 267 at the Oakland Coliseum, with Kieron Pollard looking frustrated after giving away another costly over.
The incident occurred during a match that rewrote several T20 records, as Washington Freedom completed the most successful chase in the history of the format to eliminate MI New York and book their place in Qualifier 2.
There was a heated argument on the field between Kieron Pollard and Steve Smith: Watch
The flashpoint occurred on the last ball of the 14th over when Kieron Pollard, who had returned to bowling despite having his little finger taped, bowled a slower short-of-a-length ball outside the off stump.
Steve Smith attempted a pull shot, but could only take an inside edge and return to the bowler. Kieron Pollard immediately collected the ball and threw it in the direction of Smith as the Australian batsman was standing at his crease. The throw went over Smith’s head towards the wicketkeeper, leading to a brief altercation between the two players.
While Steve Smith was seen smiling throughout the incident, Kieron Pollard looked quite elated after an over which went against him.
The disappointment was understandable considering what had unfolded in the first over. Smith hit Kieron Pollard for a straight six off the opening ball, before Andries Ghouse hit another six three balls later. Smith then cleared deep extra cover to hit another six, before an exchange took place on the final ball and an eventful over ended.
Kieron Pollard vs Steve Smith | Polly wanted a smoke pic.twitter.com/A55cPRhDaT
— That’s Cricket (@thatscricketjm) July 16, 2026
Washington Freedom chases 267 runs thanks to Steve Smith and Andries Gaus
Earlier in the evening, MI New York scored 266 runs for 9 wickets thanks to one of the finest innings of franchise T20 cricket by Nicholas Pooran. The left-handed batsman scored 106 runs in just 33 balls and completed his century in just 31 balls, which is the second fastest century in franchise T20 history after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball effort in the IPL.
Despite the difficult target, Washington Freedom responded with an exceptional batting performance. After the fall of early wickets threatened to derail the chase, Steve Smith and wicketkeeper-batsman Andries Goss completely changed the momentum with an unbeaten 241-run partnership for the third wicket.
Goss scored a brilliant 132 while Smith remained unbeaten on 110 as the pair took Washington Freedom to 270 for 4 with several balls to spare. His stand completely demolished the MI New York bowling attack and achieved one of the biggest run chases ever in T20 cricket.
The win also kept Washington Freedom’s title hopes alive as they advanced to the next stage of the playoffs.
List of records broken and set after the Washington Freedom’s historic run chase
The eliminator produced a remarkable list of records in both innings. Washington Freedom’s successful chase of 267 runs has now become the most successful run chase in T20 history, surpassing Punjab Kings’ target of 265 runs against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.
51 sixes were also hit in the match, which is the highest number of sixes so far in a T20 match and the first time that two teams together have hit more than 50 sixes. MI New York contributed 29 sixes, the most by a team in an MLC innings, while Washington Freedom contributed 22 sixes.
The Freedom’s score of 270 for 4 became the highest team score in Major League Cricket history, breaking the previous record of 269.
The combined total of 536 runs is the second highest in all T20 cricket, after the 549-run contest between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024. For the first time in T20 history, three different batsmen scored centuries in the same match.
There were personal milestones, too. Goss became the first USA batsman to score a century in Major League cricket, while Pollard reached another milestone by becoming the second batsman after Chris Gayle to hit 1,000 sixes in recognized T20 cricket.