By Rohit - Jul 14, 2025 01:13 PM
In a jaw-dropping turnaround, MI New York transformed their dismal season into a triumphant tale, clinching the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) title with a heart-stopping five-run victory over defending champions Washington Freedom at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. After dropping six of their first seven games, MINY's resurgence is one of the most remarkable in T20 franchise history.
Rushil's title-winning last over ??
— MI New York (@MINYCricket) July 14, 2025
pic.twitter.com/drHYxiBC8r
Chasing 181, Washington Freedom needed 12 runs off the final over, bowled by 22-year-old Rushil Ugarkar. With Glenn Phillips (48 not out) and captain Glenn Maxwell at the crease, the stage was set for a tense finish. Maxwell took a single off the first ball, followed by Phillips with another. Maxwell's big swing on the third ball missed, leaving 10 runs needed off the last three deliveries.
Attempting a slog over midwicket, Maxwell mistimed, skying the ball to long-on where Michael Bracewell held the catch. New batter Obus Pienaar swung and missed the fifth ball, leaving an impossible 10 runs to score off the final delivery. Ugarkar's composure sealed MINY's dream turnaround.
Washington Freedom’s chase began disastrously, with Trent Boult dismissing Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous in the first over, leaving them at 0 for 2. A resilient 84-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra (70 off 41, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Jack Edwards (33 off 22) steadied the innings. The stand broke in the ninth over when Edwards was caught at long-on off Nosthush Kenjige.
Ravindra and Phillips added 46 more, but Ugarkar struck again in the 16th over, removing Ravindra with a slower ball sliced to extra cover. Phillips kept Freedom alive with two sixes off Tristan Luus in the 18th over, but Boult’s tight 19th (12 runs conceded) set up Ugarkar’s heroic final over.
Earlier, Quinton de Kock’s fluent 77 off 46 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) anchored MINY’s 180/7. He shared a 72-run opening stand with Monank Patel (28 off 22), who fell to Lockie Ferguson. Tajinder Dhillon’s exit in the 10th over brought Nicholas Pooran to the crease, and his 56-run stand with de Kock steadied MINY. Saurabh Netravalkar broke through, dismissing Pooran with an off-pace delivery. Ferguson (3 for 24) shone for Freedom, removing de Kock and Kieron Pollard in the same over. Despite a late collapse (5 wickets for 18 runs), Kunwarjeet Singh’s unbeaten 22 off 13 lifted MINY to a competitive total.
MINY’s journey from near rock-bottom to MLC champions showcases their resilience and depth. Ugarkar’s nerve, Boult’s experience, and de Kock’s brilliance proved too much for a spirited Washington Freedom side. This thrilling final cements MI New York’s place in T20 history.
Brief Scores: MI New York 180/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 77; Lockie Ferguson 3-21) beat Washington Freedom 175/5 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 70; Trent Boult 2-32, Rushil Ugarkar 2-32) by 5 runs.
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