Washington Freedom vs MI New York Prediction & Match Preview – MLC Eliminator
Match summary
Our preview of Washington Freedom vs MI New York in the MLC 2026 Eliminator at Oakland Coliseum: pitch, weather, expected scores and verdict.
Match details
| Match | Washington Freedom vs MI New York, Eliminator |
|---|---|
| Series | Major League Cricket 2026 |
| Date | 15 Jul 2026 |
| Start time | 6:30 pm local time |
| Venue | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Washington Freedom |
| Toss pick | MI New York |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Washington Freedom and MI New York meet in the Eliminator of Major League Cricket 2026 at the Oakland Coliseum, with the loser going out. The 6:30 pm local start and a surface that favours batters point towards a high-scoring evening.
Washington are captained by Steven Smith and have plenty of firepower in Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous and Glenn Maxwell. Their seam attack includes Ben Dwarshuis, Obus Pienaar and Ian Holland, with Saurabh Netravalkar also in the mix.
MI New York’s squad features Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Monank Patel and Trent Boult, along with Romario Shepherd and Rushil Ugarkar. Their strength lies in explosive batting and a quality new-ball option in Boult.
Short boundaries and good bounce make a total above 175 likely to be needed, though a strong powerplay can make a chase achievable. Weighing depth and the way the top order is stacked, our preview selects Washington Freedom, while expecting MI New York to call correctly at the toss and field first.
The drop-in surface at Oakland Coliseum is expected to be balanced with a slight lean towards batters, offering good pace and even bounce. Seamers may get some movement with the new ball, while spinners will have to rely on accuracy and variations in the middle overs. Short boundaries make big hitting easier, and a first-innings total of 175–195 is considered competitive. Chasing has generally worked well in similar conditions, so captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl.
The evening is forecast to be comfortable and mostly cloudy at around 23°C, with very little chance of rain. The cloud cover could help fast bowlers a little, and the dew factor is expected to be minimal, so both sides should face similar conditions.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | – |
| Second innings | 160–175 | – |
Washington Freedom
Our preview gives Washington Freedom the edge in this knockout, with a deep batting group led by Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Rachin Ravindra.
Toss pick: MI New York
FAQ
Who is expected to win Washington Freedom vs MI New York?
Our preview picks Washington Freedom to progress from the Eliminator.
Who is likely to win the toss?
We expect MI New York to win the toss and bowl first.
What score is competitive at Oakland Coliseum?
A first-innings total of 175–195 is considered competitive on this batting-friendly surface.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Line-ups not available yet.