Did MI New York Secure the MLC Title in a Heart-Stopping Finale?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a thrilling finale, MI New York clinched the 2025 MLC title with a five-run victory over Washington Freedom. After a shaky start to the season, their comeback showcases the power of resilience in sports. Discover how this historic match unfolded and the key players who made a difference.
Key Takeaways
- MI New York's resilience led to an incredible comeback.
- Quinton de Kock's performance was pivotal in setting a competitive total.
- Trent Boult's bowling was crucial in restricting Washington Freedom.
- Rushil Ugarkar held his nerve in the final over.
- The match highlighted the unpredictability of T20 cricket.
Dallas, July 14 (NationPress) After a shaky start to the season, where MI New York lost six out of their first seven matches, they made a stunning comeback in franchise T20 history, clinching the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) title with a nail-biting five-run victory against the defending champions, Washington Freedom, at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Facing a daunting task of needing 12 runs from the final over, Washington Freedom had two experienced finishers—Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips—at the crease, holding onto hopes of victory. The pressure mounted on the young Rushil Ugarkar, who was tasked with bowling the last over. Maxwell managed a single off the first delivery, followed by Phillips with another.
Maxwell took a swing at the third ball but missed entirely. With 10 runs required from the last three deliveries, he aimed for a big hit over midwicket but ended up skying the ball to long-on, where Michael Bracewell made a crucial catch.
Debutant Obus Pienaar swung and missed at the fifth ball, leaving 10 runs needed off the final delivery—a challenging task. The last dot ball sealed an extraordinary comeback and a championship win for MI New York.
Freedom's chase got off to a poor start as Trent Boult took out Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous in the opening over, leaving the team at 0 for 2. However, Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards steadied the innings with an 84-run partnership. Ravindra stole the spotlight with an impressive 70 off 41 balls, which included eight boundaries and two sixes, while Edwards contributed 33 off 22 balls. The partnership ended in the ninth over when Edwards was dismissed at long-on off Nosthush Kenjige.
Ravindra and Phillips added another 46 runs, but Ravindra's dismissal in the 16th over—caught slicing a wide slower ball from Ugarkar—shifted the momentum back to MI New York.
Phillips continued to keep the chase alive with two sixes off Tristan Luus in the 18th over, but Boult’s tight penultimate over, which gave away only 12 runs, left Freedom needing the same in the last. Ugarkar maintained his composure to secure the win.
Earlier in the match, Quinton de Kock anchored MI New York's innings with a solid 77 off 46 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes. He formed a 72-run opening partnership with Monank Patel, who scored 28 off 22 before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson. Tajinder Dhillon fell to Ian Holland in the 10th over, leading to the arrival of Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran and de Kock then added 56 runs for the fourth wicket until Netravalkar ended the partnership, catching Pooran off a mistimed shot.
Lockie Ferguson was the standout bowler for Freedom, achieving figures of 3 for 24. His second spell was crucial, dismissing the well-set de Kock and the dangerous Kieron Pollard in the same over. While Maxwell was costly, he managed to take the wicket of Bracewell.
MI New York faltered towards the end, losing five wickets for just 18 runs, but an invaluable unbeaten 22 off 13 balls from Kunwarjeet Singh helped them reach a competitive score—one that ultimately proved sufficient.
Brief scores: MI New York 180/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 77; Lockie Ferguson 3-21) defeated Washington Freedom 175/5 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 70; Trent Boult 2-32, Rushil Ugarkar 2-32) by five runs.
Point of View
The match exemplified how sports can serve as a stage for resilience and determination. MI New York's journey from the bottom of the league to champions illustrates the unpredictability and excitement of T20 cricket. Their triumph will be remembered as a pivotal moment in Major League Cricket history.
NationPress
14/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How did MI New York win the MLC title?
MI New York secured the MLC title by defeating Washington Freedom in a tense final, winning by just five runs.
Who were the key players in the final match?
Key players included Quinton de Kock, who scored 77 runs, and Trent Boult, who took crucial wickets for MI New York.
What was the final score of the match?
The final score was MI New York 180/7, defeating Washington Freedom 175/5.
What was the significance of this win for MI New York?
This win marked a remarkable turnaround for MI New York, showcasing their resilience after a poor start to the season.
Where did the final match take place?
The final match took place at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.
