Watch: Akeal Hosein celebrates hat-trick for Texas Super Kings vs Washington Freedom — MLC 2026

The 13th encounter of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 between the Texas Super Kings and the Washington Freedom saw mixed emotions from the Texas fans and their left-arm spinner, Akeal Hosein, who, even after celebrating his hat-trick, couldn’t deliver the victory to them. 

Hosein was given the hardest role of defending just six runs off the last over by the Texas captain, Faf du Plessis. The West Indies spinner kept them in the contest for the five balls before Nikhil Chaudhary gave Washington new freedom by breaking the jail with the last-ball six. 

Akeal Hosein rips through Washington Freedom with three in three

The very first ball of the last over was a dot as Marco Jansen failed to get a connection on the mistimed reverse sweep. And on the very next delivery, he was dismissed for nine runs. The left-arm spinner darted quicker and down the leg to the right-handed batter, who was half down on the sweep as the ball lobbed in the air before being caught.

Watch Akeal Hosein's hat-trick in MLC 2026 here- 

The new batter, Amila Aponso, swung his willow with power but failed to make contact. There was no power behind the shot, and Wiaan Mulder, at the deep backward square leg, grabbed a fine catch to send Aponso back to the hut.

See Also: Watch: Akeal Hossein shows mask celebration after Tilak Varma's wicket during MI vs CSK clash in IPL 2026

And finally, on the third delivery, Hosein got the wicket of Asif Mehmood. It was pushed through by the spinner as the batter backed away and mistimed to get the bat on it. But the latter’s feet were in the air when Saiteja Mukkamalla broke the stumps to dismiss the batter. It was the first-ever hat-trick by any bowler in the history of the MLC 2026.

"Just thinking of the ways I could have won it for my team. The plan was to hit the wicket as hard as possible. Some were spinning, some were staying low, just wanted to attack the wickets." Hosein said at the end of the clash. 

TSK couldn't defend it — Washington Freedom chased the target down off the final ball

Texas Super Kings, batting first, posted a decent score of 185 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs. They were struggling at 110/4 in 15 overs before Mulder and Donovan Ferreira smashed a fine stand of 75 runs off just 31 balls. The latter remained unbeaten on 44 runs off 20 balls at a strike rate of 220 with one boundary and five sixes.

Washington completed the chase by just one wicket on the last ball of the second innings. Australia's Mitchell Owen offered them the platform with 77 runs off 35 balls at a strike rate of 220 with seven boundaries and six over boundaries.

See Also: Watch: Marcus Stoinis smashes 5 sixes in one over vs Ian Holland — MLC 2026

Later, it was Nikila Chaudhary, who, despite the hat-trick of Hosein, nailed the left-arm spinner for a last-ball six to collect the two vital wins for them. Despite the win, Freedom remained at the bottom of the points table with four points at a NRR of -1.055, while Texas stayed at the top with six points in six games at a NRR of +0.03.

Cricket fans can't decide whether to celebrate Hosein's hat-trick or mourn TSK's last-ball loss

The fans on social media had different sets of emotions as they celebrated Hosein’s hat-trick and mourned the defeat of the Texas side.

Follow the live scorecard of TSK vs WF in MLC 2026-

Washington Freedom- 187/9 (Mitchell Owen 77, Nikil Chaudhary 27*, Akeal Hosein 4/36) beat Texas Super Kings 185/4 (Donovan Ferreira 44*, Nikil Chaudhary 2/29) by 1 wicket.