Akeal Hosein may have only claimed one wicket on the night, but it proved pivotal as the Texas Super Kings (TSK) powered their way to a comfortable 43-run win over Washington Freedom in a pulsating five-over-a-side shootout at the Central Broward Regional Park on Wednesday night.

The victory—the Super King's sixth of the Major League Cricket (MLC) campaign—catapulted them into second place on the points table, tied on 12 points with the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom, but with an edge in net run rate.

In a match shortened by rain, Hosein’s wicket, that of the dangerous Mitchell Owen (seven), helped stall Freedom’s chase early, just after left-arm speedster Nandre Burger rocked the top order with the wickets of Rachin Ravindra (10) and Glenn Maxwell (zero) in the very first over.

Scores: Texas Super Kings 87-2 (five overs); Washington Freedom 44-4 (five overs)

Batting first after losing the toss, the Super Kings were in early trouble as they lost Marcus Stoinis (two) in the opening over and further wobbled when Daryl Mitchell was retired out on six. But what followed was a power-hitting masterclass. Shubham Ranjane and Donovan Ferreira launched a savage assault, as they put on 53 runs in just 12 balls.

Ranjane’s 39 off 14 balls included four boundaries and three sixes, while Ferreira smashed a breathtaking 37 from just nine deliveries, including five towering sixes. Their unbroken third-wicket stand lifted the Super Kings to a total that proved well beyond the Freedom’s reach.

Freedom’s innings never gained momentum, as Owen briefly threatened with a six, but Hosein had him caught by Zia-ul-Haq to end his knock. Burger, meanwhile, had already derailed the innings by removing Ravindra and Maxwell. From there, Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 18, but with little support and too much ground to cover, the chase fizzled out.

Burger had 2-12, while Hosein had 1-18, and Noor Ahmad 1-14.