MI New York capped off a dramatic reversal in fortunes to lift the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) title, edging past defending champions Washington Freedom by five runs in a nerve-racking final at Grand Prairie Stadium.
After losing six of their first seven games in the league stage, few would have backed MINY to go the distance. But on a night of high drama and grit, the Kieron Pollard-led side held their nerve to secure their maiden MLC crown — a win sealed by 22-year-old Rushil Ugarkar, who defended 12 runs in the final over under intense pressure.
Chasing 181 for victory, Freedom had power-hitters Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips at the crease for the last over. But after exchanging singles in the first two deliveries, Maxwell mistimed a slog and was caught at long-on, tilting the contest in MINY’s favour. Debutant Obus Pienaar failed to connect on the final two balls, leaving Freedom stranded at 175 for 5.
It was a finish befitting a final that swung back and forth throughout.
Freedom’s innings began disastrously after Trent Boult removed Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous in the opening over without a run on the board. However, Rachin Ravindra (70 off 41) and Jack Edwards (33 off 22) steadied the innings with an 84-run stand, before the latter was dismissed by Nosthush Kenjige.
Ravindra, who was in sublime touch, found support from Phillips (35*), but his dismissal in the 16th over off a slower ball from Ugarkar shifted momentum back to MI New York. Despite a flurry of boundaries late in the innings, including two sixes from Phillips in the 18th over, the ask proved just out of reach.
Earlier, MI New York were powered by a classy 77 from opener Quinton de Kock, who anchored their total of 180 for 7. The South African left-hander stitched a 72-run partnership with Monank Patel (28) before adding 56 runs for the fourth wicket with Nicholas Pooran (26).
Lockie Ferguson was the standout for Freedom with 3 for 24, including the crucial scalps of de Kock and Pollard in a single over. Glenn Maxwell and Ian Holland chipped in with a wicket apiece, as MINY lost five wickets for just 18 runs in the final overs. However, Kunwarjeet Singh’s late cameo — an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls — helped push the total to a competitive score, one that eventually proved decisive.
MINY’s comeback campaign will go down as one of the finest in franchise T20 history — from near elimination to champions, with grit, talent and temperament on full display.
Brief scores:
MI New York 180/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 77, Lockie Ferguson 3-24)
beat
Washington Freedom 175/5 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 70, Rushil Ugarkar 2-32, Trent Boult 2-32)
by 5 runs.
