Growing up in Luton in the late 90s and early 00s, the playwright Sam Edmunds witnessed an abundance of knife violence that has stayed with him to this day.
“Me and my friends had knives pulled on us on numerous occasions. We once saw someone being chased with a machete at the back of the field by our school. In drama class, I remember a boy went into his bag to get his notebook out and a massive knife fell out. A boy in my brother’s year was stabbed over 10 times on a night out.”
But despite the passing of more than two decades, Edmunds says not much has changed in the town – if anything, the rise of social media has made it worse. That’s why he’s brought his experiences to bear in The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return, a play about a stabbing at a house party that is based on true events.
Now, to accompany the play’s tour, Edmunds and his Chalk Line theatre company are running a national outreach programme for knife crime intervention which they hope will reach more than 1,000 young people in the country, including in Bristol, London, Luton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Slough, Norwich, Exeter, Peterborough and Essex.
“I wrote the play because I started reflecting on why a community might be surrounded by knife violence,” Edmunds says. “It’s an interrogation of the repression and suffocation in working-class communities like Luton, and the effect that has on young people. How when you have so much anger and nowhere to put it, and there are no schemes of protection for people, that can often breed violence.”
Amaia Naima Aguinaga joins the other actors on stage. The play is designed to change the narrative and give hope. Photograph: PR
Edmunds worked with Beds Veru (the knife crime intervention unit in the Bedfordshire police) to develop the script with vulnerable young people in Luton. A section of the play is directly inspired by an “incredible” mother in Luton who lost her son to a stabbing – and later visited her son’s killer in jail to forgive him.
“The worst thing about knife crime is it instils fear,” Edmunds says. “People carry knives because they want to protect themselves. But the play is trying to say that the moment you decide to carry a knife is the moment you are in danger. Because statistically, a person carrying a knife is actually more likely to be injured by it.”
As part of the outreach programme, young people will be brought in to see the play in each town before workshopping the material with the help of a facilitator and a drama therapist. They will be asked to interrogate the themes of the play, like the moments the characters made the wrong decisions and the consequences of that.
“Then we give them an opportunity to rewrite the ending. How do you prevent this from happening? We also have them improvise their way out of the situation.
“It’s about empowering the young people, rather than lecturing them. It’s giving them a space to explore the events, so that if they ever experience something similar in real life, they can identify what’s happening and try to avoid it.”
Knife-enabled crime in England and Wales has risen by 80% over the past decade, and the number of teenagers that have been killed with a knife or a sharp object has gone up by 240%. In April, the Met police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, warned of a £450m funding gap and said rates of knife crime could rise without more government backing.
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“The police are overwhelmed, and the government isn’t providing enough support,” Edmunds says. “So our outreach campaign is as big, if not bigger, than the show itself.
“I was inspired to write this play because I felt a passion to want to change the narrative. And so if I’m not out there on the streets, meeting these kids, trying to help them, then what am I doing really? I’m just making entertainment.”
Edmunds’s play, co-directed by Vikesh Godhwani, ends with a note of hope. The character who is stabbed does not die, though their attacker is sent to prison and has an opportunity to express their remorse and wish that they had acted differently.
“I didn’t want to perpetuate a story where this always ends tragically,” he says. “I think that story is really important to tell. That these people that kill are not necessarily people that are born this way. It comes from the environment you grow up in and the lack of support. But there is a world where this doesn’t have to happen.”
SINGAPORE, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — buz, the voice messaging app that recently topped app store rankings across multiple countries, has released a product update today, with a spotlight on Japanese users. The update introduces the Kansai Vibes voice filter—buz’s most technically advanced filter to date—along with a suite of new features designed to enable more user creativity and social sharing.
Kansai Vibes: Innovation in Voice Filters
The Kansai Vibes voice filter brings vibrant regional Japanese dialects—like those from Kansai, a south-central region of Japan known for its expressive speech and major cities like Osaka and Kyoto—to life using a completely new speech synthesis approach.
Instead of simple voice conversion, buz now uses automatic speech recognition (ASR) to transcribe the user’s voice, a large language model (LLM) to rewrite it in the Kansai dialect, and finally text-to-speech (TTS) to generate a fresh, natural-sounding Kansai-accented voice. Each output is randomized, allowing for a variety of tones—from playful and anxious to bold or sarcastic—and featuring both male and female voices.
The Kansai Vibes launch is part of buz’s broader push to localize content for a culturally diverse audience. By capturing the nuance and personality of one of Japan’s regional dialects, buz is deepening its appeal among Japanese users and other international users who are interested in Japanese culture.
New ‘Featured’ Tab and Social Video Sharing
The app’s new update also debuts a Featured tab, where filters come to life with dynamic previews and social-ready content designed to spark creativity and encourage sharing. Users can now export voice-based creations directly to video, complete with visual effects and captions, then easily and quickly post them across social platforms.
New creative tools introduced in this release include fresh bubble styles, updated text templates, voice-to-video generation, and support for third-party video sharing—making it easier than ever to make voice moments into compelling, shareable content.
Global Momentum and User Excitement
buz continues its organic growth, gaining strong traction across many markets as users embrace its fresh take on voice-driven social interaction. The app is also showing strong signs of popularity among young users in Japan and around the world, reflecting its broad cross-cultural appeal. In Japan, buz has ranked #5 in the Apple App Store’s Social Networking category and #7 in Google Play’s.
Additionally, buz has reached the #1 spot in the Social Networking category of 12 countries on the App Store and four countries on Google Play. It has also ranked among the top 10 social networking apps in 133 countries on the App Store and 53 countries on Google Play, including the US, UK, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines. This strong viral growth across different markets demonstrates strong growth and momentum in diverse cultural contexts. With 4.9 stars on the App Store and 4.8 stars on Google Play, buz maintains one of the highest user satisfaction ratings in its category.
Download buz:
App Store
Google Play
About buz
buz is voice messaging made fast, natural and fun. Developed by Singapore-based Vocalbeats, the leading audio-based and voice-driven messaging app bridges age, language and cultural gaps, and is part of the Company’s vision to create the world’s largest audio platform to better connect and communication. With over 29 million downloads globally, buz enables effortless connectivity among users—anytime and anywhere—through secure, clear voice transmissions and a user-centric interface.
buz is available on the App Store and Google Play.
For more information, please visit www.buz.ai.
About Vocalbeats
Vocalbeats is dedicated to building the world’s largest audio platforms to better connect and communicate while pioneering innovation in AI-powered products and experiences. The Company fosters a globally diverse and inclusive team, committed to revolutionizing audio platforms by leveraging the synergy of heterogenous perspectives. This commitment ensures the creation of innovative products that resonate worldwide.
For more information, please visit https://www.vocalbeats.com.
CAGLIARI, Sardinia, Italy, 8 July 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press Interview published today in Genomic Psychiatry, Dr. Mirko Manchia opens up about his transformative journey from a small Sardinian city to becoming a leading voice in psychiatric pharmacogenomics, revealing how personal family experiences with mental illness sparked a lifelong quest to understand why psychiatric medications work brilliantly for some patients while failing others.
The Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Cagliari has spent decades unraveling one of psychiatry’s most perplexing puzzles: why does lithium, psychiatry’s oldest mood stabilizer, transform some bipolar patients’ lives while leaving others searching for alternatives?
From Personal Experience to Scientific Breakthrough
Growing up in Sassari with no medical background in his family, Dr. Manchia’s path into neuroscience began with what he describes as “profound familial events” during adolescence that connected him deeply with mental health. This personal connection would later fuel groundbreaking research that culminated in a landmark publication in The Lancet, identifying genome-wide significant associations for lithium response in bipolar patients.
“I saw patients who had severe illness trajectories and who had remained well after several years of treatment with mood stabilizers, especially lithium, while others experienced continuous recurrences with dire consequences on their lives,” Dr. Manchia reflects in the interview. This observation became the cornerstone of his research philosophy.
Building International Collaborations
As a co-investigator and founding member of the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen), Dr. Manchia has helped coordinate one of psychiatry’s most ambitious pharmacogenetic efforts. His meticulous phenotypic analysis of patient samples has been instrumental in identifying genetic markers that could predict treatment response before patients endure months of trial-and-error medication adjustments.
The impact extends far beyond lithium. With 230 peer-reviewed publications spanning molecular genetics and clinical psychiatry, Dr. Manchia has established himself as a bridge between laboratory discoveries and real-world patient care. His dual appointments at Cagliari and Dalhousie University in Canada reflect this international reach.
Precision Medicine Takes Center Stage
Currently serving as chair of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Bipolar Disorders Network, Dr. Manchia envisions a future where genetic testing becomes routine in psychiatric care. “We are at a point in psychiatric genetics where clinical utility is emerging,” he states. His current focus includes developing healthcare pathways that integrate pharmacogenetic testing for treatment-resistant depression and implementing AI-based predictive tools.
What makes this vision particularly compelling is its practical application. Rather than pursuing abstract genetic associations, Dr. Manchia’s work centers on questions every psychiatrist faces: Which patient will respond to this medication? How can we minimize the devastating trial-and-error period that often characterizes psychiatric treatment? Can we predict and prevent treatment resistance before it develops?
Addressing Research Disparities
The interview also highlights a critical challenge facing psychiatric research: chronic underfunding compared to other medical specialties. Dr. Manchia advocates for increased investment, noting that oncology’s transformation followed massive research funding. “This could also be achieved in psychiatry, but we need to act in a harmonized way, involving all stakeholders, particularly patient and family associations,” he emphasizes.
His approach to this challenge reflects the same patient-centered philosophy that drives his research. By involving patient organizations in research development and dissemination, Dr. Manchia believes the field can build the public support necessary for sustained funding increases.
Looking Ahead: Digital Integration and Beyond
The interview reveals Dr. Manchia’s vision for psychiatry’s future, where digital monitoring, psychometric assessments, genomics, and brain imaging converge into comprehensive predictive models. Within 20 years, he predicts, these integrated approaches will fundamentally transform how mental health is managed and delivered.
Yet despite these technological advances, Dr. Manchia’s motivations remain deeply human. When asked about his greatest passion beyond science, he mentions Roman history, classical music, and playing guitar – reminders that even cutting-edge researchers need balance and perspective.
Dr. Mirko Manchia’s Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today’s most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist’s impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas – Genomic Press Interview series can be found in our publications website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/.
The Genomic Press Interview in Genomic Psychiatry titled “Mirko Manchia: Exploring the biological landscape of psychiatric disorders to innovate clinical management with precision medicine approaches,” is freely available via Open Access on 8 July 2025 in Genomic Psychiatry at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/gp025k.0071.
About Genomic Psychiatry: Genomic Psychiatry: Advancing Science from Genes to Society (ISSN: 2997-2388, online and 2997-254X, print) represents a paradigm shift in genetics journals by interweaving advances in genomics and genetics with progress in all other areas of contemporary psychiatry. Genomic Psychiatry publishes high-quality medical research articles of the highest quality from any area within the continuum that goes from genes and molecules to neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and public health.
Visit the Genomic Press Virtual Library: https://issues.genomicpress.com/bookcase/gtvov/
Our full website is at: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
Tietoevry Care is proud to announce its inclusion in the Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Healthcare Providers, 2025 as a sample vendor insemantic interoperability, a key enabler of integrated, data-driven healthcare across Europe.
“We are proud to be acknowledged by Gartner for our work in advancing interoperability,” said Ari Järvelä, Managing Director at Tietoevry Care. “Our data-driven Lifecare software solutions help healthcare providers unlock the full value of data to enhance caregiver and patient experience and to improve care outcomes.”
Driving Impact Across the Ecosystem
Tietoevry Care’s Lifecare software solutions support care coordination and collaborationacross clinical and social care settings as well as cross-organizational data sharingto support integrated care pathways.
These capabilities are increasingly vital as European healthcare systems respond to regulatory requirements, citizen expectations for data access, and the shift toward more collaborative models of care.
For more information, please contact Tietoevry Newsdesk, news@tietoevry.com, +358 40 570 4072 , +358 40 570 4072
—
Gartner, Hype Cycle for Healthcare Providers, 2025, Andrew Meyer, 25 June 2025
GARTNER and HYPE CYCLE are a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Tietoevry Care is a leading provider of health and social care software in the Nordics. We are modernising the health and social care sector with our modular, open, and interoperable Lifecare software, supporting the daily lives of over 10 million Nordic citizens. Our data-driven approach empowers care professionals to uncover critical insights and deliver the right support at the right time, ensuring a smoother and more personalized care experience for everyone.
We are part of Tietoevry, a leading technology company with annual revenue of approximately EUR2 billion*. Tietoevry’s shares are listed on the NASDAQ exchange in Helsinki and Stockholm, as well as on Oslo Børs. www.tietoevry.com
* Tietoevry Tech Services is excluded due to the divestment signed in March 2025. The transaction is expected to close during Q3 2025.
SHENZHEN, China, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Innovation has always been a crucial component in creating unique and valuable products. While catering to growing trends, Baseus has also placed heavy emphasis on creating a range of products that meet the unique needs of each user. This means creating devices and gadgets that adapt to dynamic lifestyles – whether you’re on the move or at home. Now, Baseus is launching a range of products ideal for the traveler with the latest PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount Series and the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger.
Built to be flexible, convenient, and user-friendly, the PrimeTrip C03 range consists of the C03 and C03S magnetic car mounts. Each product in this range is equipped with exciting new features that make it the ideal companion on any journey. On the other hand, Baseus is also launching its PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger as part of the exceptional Baseus VR2 range. The 100W charger also comes in a 60W and 30W variety to give users more options when it comes to charging on the go. The new generation of Baseus devices brings several noteworthy updates worth highlighting.
PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger
A 4-in-1 100W Charging Solution: One of the biggest highlights of the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger is definitely the absolute scale of power and usage. This versatile charging solution comes with 4 different charging ports: A 67W USB-C1 cable, a 33W USB-C2 cable, a 33W USB-C port, and a 30W USB-A port. These each serve a specific purpose and can be used respectively to charge different devices at the same time. Equipped with a hefty 100W maximum output, speed and power are no problem for the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger. When using multiple ports simultaneously, the USB-C1 port will maintain a 67W output to charge high-power devices such as laptops.
450° Dual-Axis Flex Rotation: When you’re charging on the go, you need a device that is as flexible as you are. This is why the nifty PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger has both 270° horizontal and 180° vertical movement. This innovative and practical design ensures that everyone in the car has easy access to the charger. For people in the backseat, you can also simply recharge with the longer cable.
Dual 31.5-inch Retractable USB-C Cables: Speaking of cables, the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger does it all with 2 durable USB-C retractable cables that run to around 31.5 inches. This extends – quite literally – your charging capabilities and allows anyone in the car to charge their devices comfortably from any seat. With no fixed gears in the cables, you can stretch them to any length you need in a smooth and seamless swoop. The retractable and seamless design also ensures that you never have to deal with cable clutter again.
Uninterrupted & Ultra-Safe Charging: Your charging experience needs to be seamless, but it also needs to be safe. This is why the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger comes with several safety protocols to keep your devices and car safe with every charge. These safety measures include over-temperature protection, over-voltage protection, over-current protection, and a flame-retardant shell material. These all work together to ensure that your fast charger is never a hazard on your journey.
Wide Compatibility: Another key highlight of a good car charger is its compatibility. Fortunately, the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger has a wide range of compatibility and fits in with almost every major branded device available today. This includes phones from iPhone, Samsung, Google, and many others. It’s also compatible with a wide array of tablets, earbuds, smartwatches, drones, cameras, and other devices.
Stable Anti-Slip Clips: Staying stable during a car ride can be a tough ask for many chargers. However, the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger features a customized special double clip design that provides maximum grip and stability while driving. This will keep your charger steady in place, no matter how bumpy the road gets.
Instant Magnetic Retraction: As mentioned before, a unique element of the PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger is its dual cables. However, another special part of that design is their instant magnetic retraction. This ensures that every retract will pull the cable neatly and smoothly back into place without a fuss, keeping your car tidy and clutter-free.
During this Prime Day, the impressive PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger is now available on the Amazon store with great deals now available for $29.99 and the 30W variant for $19.99!
Baseus PrimeTrip C03S Magnetic Car Mount
Industry’s First Dual-Arm Design: The Baseus PrimeTrip C03S Magnetic Car Mount comes equipped with a dual-arm design on a compact base, built to fit along complex and curved surfaces. This makes it ideal for several car models and provides unrestricted installation angles for different viewing preferences. Easily stick the car mount in place across any surface in the car for secure and stable attachment.
Seamlessly Detachable Twin Base Design: To stay adaptable, the PrimeTrip C03S Magnetic Car Mount also uses a simple push-to-remove and click-to-lock mechanism that allows you to easily twist the base to detach the main unit. This keeps your phone securely mounted while you adjust the base to your preference, giving you the optimal view and stability at every angle.
Flexible Aluminum Dual-Arms with 3M Adhesive Base: To ensure flexibility and stability in every situation, the PrimeTrip C03S Magnetic Car Mount uses super-strong 3M adhesive pads that stay in place and can endure extreme heat up to 121°C (250°F). The aluminum twin arms can also be bent freely in all directions while retaining their shape. Unlike single-arm car mount designs, the split rod design here won’t block off any portion of the view while driving.
20N Maximum Magnetism: Keep your phone safely in place with 20N magnetism that can secure even large phones and has been proven to reduce phone drop incidents caused by bumps on the road. Apple 12 and above users can attach directly; however, non-Apple users will need to install a magnetic ring using the provided installation guide.
Dual Magnetic Bases: Another great advantage of the PrimeTrip C03S Magnetic Car Mount is that the dual bases feature built-in magnets to ensure that they snap into alignment instantly. This allows you to reset the mount to its original shape almost instantly when you need to.
PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount
Industry’s First Magnetic Adjustment Knob: With the PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount, you can make use of a rear knob with precise 15-25N force control to give you a firmer grip on your device. This mount also works on complex surfaces and can be used almost anywhere in your car.
Reversible Magnetic Head for Flexible Orientation: The PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount also features a 180° flexible angle. Coupled with a 360° rotatable base, it allows you to flip it front to back with a simple twist. This gives you several flexible viewing angles to choose from depending on your preferences.
Smart-Flex Design: To extend the flexibility even more, the PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount also has a 180° bendable aluminum arm that can flex easily while still holding firm. This keeps your device stable without sagging an inch. The car mount also uses a 360° rotating base with a dial lock. This allows you to fine-tune angles with precision up to 20°, then twist the dial to lock your perfect position.
Wide Compatibility: Another great feature of the PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount is that it can be used with almost any type of phone, regardless of size. The car mount easily secures large phones while reducing phone drop incidents caused by bumps on the road. However, while Apple 12 and above users can attach directly, non-Apple users will need to install a magnetic ring using the provided installation guide.
3M Adhesive Base: To stay securely in place, the PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount features an upgraded 3M adhesive that lasts longer and can survive extreme temperatures of up to 121°C (250°F). Simply lock the spot, then apply the 3M adhesive and let it set for 24 hours for the strongest hold.
The PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount Series promises to be a new chapter in flexible and adaptable car mount technology. The C03 Magnetic Car Mount Series is now available on Amazon for customers in the US and across Europe in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.
Overall, Baseus is committed to improving designs and features to keep up with the fast-paced lifestyles of our users. The PrimeTrip C03 Magnetic Car Mount Series and PrimeTrip VR2 Max 100W Car Charger are testament to that devotion. These exceptional products are dedicated to making every trip easier, whether you’re taking a long road trip or simply commuting to work each day. At Baseus, your needs come first when it comes to creating advanced technology that simplifies your day-to-day life.
About Baseus
Founded in 2011, Baseus was born out of utmost care for users. The company embodies its slogan: Practical. Reliable. Base on User. This shows the pursuit of ultimate practicality to solve users’ problems with outstanding design and fashionable appearances that also reflect reliability, high quality, and cost-effectiveness. Baseus delivers a variety of products – including Portable Chargers, Desktop Chargers, Wall Chargers, Wireless Earbuds, and Docking Stations. Chosen by 300 million users and providing 6 billion services, Baseus delivers over 100 million practical and aesthetic products each year, continuously enhancing users’ sense of fulfillment. Join the Baseus family today to see a new world of technological innovation.
Media Contact:
Name: Baseus PR Team Phone: +1 (213) 512-7063 Email: [email protected] Baseus Technology (HK) Co., Ltd Baseus Official Website: https://www.baseus.com/
An Essex racing driver has featured in the new F1 movie alongside Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.
F1: The Movie hit cinema screens across the world on 25 June and centres on a fictional Formula 1 team, APXGP.
Luciano Bacheta, from Brentwood, Essex, was working as a film stunt driver before he landed the non-speaking role as APXGP reserve driver Luca Cortez.
He told BBC Essex he worked closely with Pitt and even went to the premiere, adding: “That was wild, I was sat next to Brad… and I was thinking, ‘What on earth is going on in my life right now?’”
Bacheta is a British stunt driver and former racing driver who competed in the FIA Formula Two Championship from 2011 to 2012. He also had a small role in Mission Impossible 5.
He said he managed to bag his part in the F1 movie because of his racing background and ability to stunt drive.
“It was really weird because I did not think I was going to end up in the film at all,” he said.
When the call came, Bacheta said it was originally just to stunt drive “and then it developed into choreography and designing the sequences and coaching casts”.
The driver also worked closely with Pitt throughout the movie and even coached him on how to become a racing driver.
He said by the end of shooting the film, Pitt was actually racing with him.
“He’s great, I’ve worked so closely with him. At the beginning, I was super struck as I always am.
“By the end of it, it was just like a pleasure to work with him – it was like we’re mates,” he added.
Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for the 2025 edition of the Major League Cricket, Qualifier 1, 31st match – Texas Super Kings vs Washington Freedom, to be played on the 8th of July, 2025 at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas.
Points Table
Texas Super Kings vs Washington Freedom – 8th July
Match Details:
Date: Tuesday, 8th June 2025.
Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas.
Match Time: 5:30 AM IST | 7:00 PM Local/CDT | 1:00 AM BST
Current Form:
Texas Super Kings:
The Super Kings ended third with just three losses in their season, and the form of their best players, Faf du Plessis and Adam Milne have ensured that the Super Kings have two shots at making the final.
Washington Freedom:
The table toppers, the Freedom have found even more contributions from a bunch of players and that is the reason they have ended up top with two opportunities at making the finals, continuing their performances from last season.
Players to Watch:
Texas Super Kings:
Adam Milne – one half of a deadly bowling pair, Milne has 14 wickets in five games at 8.5, going at 6.67 an over and has struck once every 7.6 balls.
Faf du Plessis – 409 runs in nine games, Faf is the leading run-scorer this season, while averaging 51.12 and has struck at 175.53, putting on a show and proving age is just a number.
Akeal Hosein– the Trinidadian has taken nine wickets in five games, averaging 9.44 but has an economy of less than six, going at 5 an over, taking a wicket once every 11.3 balls.
Washington Freedom:
Jack Edwards – with 13 wickets in ten games, Edwards is amongst the leading bowlers in the tournament, taking his wickets at 20.5 and striking once every 14 balls.
Glenn Maxwell – the captain of the Freedom has put on a show this season, with 237 runs at 33.85, while striking at 185 and has taken nine wickets at 15.33.
Mitchell Owen – the MVP of this season of the 2025 MLC, Owen has scored 313 runs in his ten games striking at 195.62 and has taken 14 wickets at 17.92.
Batting Stats T20
Head-to-Head (Last 3 Matches):
The Washington Freedom have more wins in the last three match-ups between these two sides, but the Texas Super Kings have won the most recent battle between the two, promising this to be a very enthralling battle.
Venue Stats – Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas (2022-2025):
Average 1st Innings Score:
2023 – 167.41
2024 – 167.81
2025 – 203.75
Bowling Averages and Economy Rates:
Wickets Percentage based on Innings:
Wickets Per Innings:
Wickets per Phase:
Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 1.57 wickets
Middle Overs (Overs 7–15): 2.63 wickets
Death Overs (Overs 16–20): 2.31 wickets
Dallas has turned into a batting paradise and the teams will be loving it back from Lauderhill where batting felt like a tough task at times.
The spinners just about edge ahead here, with the pacers average a shade under 30 and going at almost one extra run to the over. But at the end of it all, it has been a batting paradise.
Match Prediction – Washington Freedom v Texas Super Kings
Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions – PrePlay*
Who will win the toss? — Washington
Who will win the match? — Texas
Top Batter (Runs Scored) — Faf du Plessis (Texas), Mitchell Owen (Washington)
Top Bowler (Wickets Taken) — Adam Milne (Texas), Jack Edwards (Washington)
Most Sixes — Faf du Plessis (Texas), Mitchell Owen (Washington)
Player of the Match — Faf du Plessis (Texas)
Team Scores Batting First — Texas 180+, Washington 170+
Most 6’s T20
*NB these picks and predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match, once the final starting teams have been announced – also, check out the % Win Prediction Widget which is live Pre-Play and InPlay and fluctuates with the latest market odds – we will soon be running other ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned…. and always remember…. when the fun stops… STOP
