MI New York Claims US Cricket Title In Thrilling Final-Over Victory

DALLAS, TX  (IANS)- In a turnaround, MI New York, after a challenging start to the season, secured the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) title. They defeated defending champions Washington Freedom by a mere five runs in a tense final at Grand Prairie Stadium. This victory caps an incredible comeback for MI New York, which had lost six of their first seven matches.

Washington Freedom, chasing 181, needed 12 runs from the final over with seasoned finishers Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips at the crease. However, 22-year-old Rushil Ugarkar, bowling the crucial last over, held his nerve. After two singles, Maxwell swung and missed, then skied the next delivery to Michael Bracewell at long-on for a vital catch. Debutant Obus Pienaar then missed the fifth ball, leaving Freedom needing an insurmountable 10 runs off the final delivery, sealing an extraordinary championship for MI New York.

Freedom’s chase began disastrously, with Trent Boult dismantling the top order by removing Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous in the very first over, leaving them reeling at 0 for 2. Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards then forged a crucial 84-run partnership to stabilize the innings. Ravindra was the chief aggressor, scoring a superb 70 off 41 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, while Edwards contributed 33 from 22 deliveries. Their partnership concluded in the ninth over when Edwards was caught off Nosthush Kenjige.

Ravindra and Phillips added 46 more, but Ravindra’s dismissal in the 16th over, caught off a wide slower delivery from Ugarkar, swung the momentum back in favor of MI New York. Phillips attempted to keep the chase alive with two sixes off Tristan Luus in the 18th over. However, Boult’s tight penultimate over, conceding only 12 runs, set up the dramatic final over where Ugarkar ultimately clinched the victory.

Earlier, Quinton de Kock anchored MI New York’s innings with a fluent 77 off 46 balls, adorned with six fours and four sixes. He established a 72-run opening stand with Monank Patel, who made 28 off 22 before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson. Tajinder Dhillon followed, dismissed by Ian Holland in the 10th over, bringing Nicholas Pooran to the crease.

Pooran and de Kock then added a vital 56 runs for the fourth wicket. Their partnership was broken by Saurabh Netravalkar, who induced a mistimed shot from Pooran that was caught at cover.

Lockie Ferguson was the standout bowler for Washington Freedom, claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs. His second spell was particularly impactful, as he dismissed both the well-set de Kock and the dangerous Kieron Pollard in the same over. Glenn Maxwell, despite being expensive, also contributed with the wicket of Michael Bracewell.

MI New York experienced a late stumble, losing five wickets for 18 runs. However, a crucial unbeaten 22 off 13 balls from Kunwarjeet Singh in the death overs helped them post a competitive total of 180 for 7, which ultimately proved to be just enough for victory.