Australia’s Mitchell Owen took the first five-wicket haul of his career to help Washington Freedom inflict a first defeat on San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket.

Unicorns were going well at 97-2 in the 11th over, in pursuit of 170 to extend their winning run to seven matches.

However, Owen had compatriot Matthew Short caught at long-on for 67 – his fourth consecutive half-century since joining up with Freedom – to start a collapse.

They were 113-7 less than five overs later, with Owen also removing Hassan Khan for seven and Romario Shepherd for a first-ball duck.

Owen broke a stand of 28 for the eighth wicket and also claimed the ninth as Unicorns finished on 157-9, to lose by 12 runs.

Freedom were 30-4 after five overs of their innings with Owen out for a duck, Rachin Ravindra for nine and Glenn Maxwell for one.

However, a stand of 71 between Jack Edwards (42 off 42) and Glenn Phillips (58 off 39) helped them to 101-5.

Obus Pienaar (30*) then supported Phillips before sharing an unbroken 37 with Mukhtar Ahmed after Phillips was dismissed as Freedom posted 169-6.

Unicorns stay top on net run-rate but have been joined on 12 points by Freedom. Both sides have already guaranteed a play-off spot.