MI New York edge Washington Freedom in final to win second Major League Cricket title

MI New York pulled off a stunning five-run victory over Washington Freedom to clinch the Major League Cricket 2025 title at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, USA, on Monday.

After being put into bat first, MI New York posted 180/7 in their 20 overs in the MLC 2025 final with Quinton de Kock leading the charge with a 77-run knock.

Washington Freedom looked favourites to defend their title with international stars Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips at the crease heading into the final over.

However, 22-year-old American cricketer Rushil Ugarkar held his nerve and defended 12 runs in a tense finish, sealing MI New York’s second title in three seasons.

Washington were rocked early in the chase, slipping to 0/2 in the first over after Trent Boult dismissed Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous.

However, Rachin Ravindra counter-attacked with a blistering 70 off 41 balls, and Jack Edwards chipped in with 33 off 22. Their 84-run stand kept the chase alive before Ugarkar and Nosthush Kenjige pegged them back with key wickets.

Earlier, MI New York rode on Quinton de Kock’s 77 off 46 balls to post 180/7. The South African opener set the tone after Monank Patel’s brisk 28, but a middle-order wobble saw them slip from 148/3 to 166/7 in quick time.

Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the Washington bowlers, finishing with 3/21.

Kunwarjeet Singh’s unbeaten 22 off 13 proved vital in lifting MINY to the 180-mark, a total that proved just enough in the end.

The Major League Cricket (MLC) is the USA’s top-tier T20 tournament that saw six teams battle it out for the title. It was granted List-A status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2024.

MI New York were also the inaugural MLC winners, defeating Seattle Orcas in the 2023 summit clash. Washington Freedom beat San Francisco Unicorns in the 2024 final.

MLC 2025 season featured a total of 34 matches - nine more than last year.

The playoffs saw the top two teams from the league stage - Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings - meet in the Qualifier, which was washed out, granting Washington a direct entry into the final as the better-placed team in the league stage.

MI New York then beat San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator and Texas Super Kings in the Challenger to join Washington Freedom in the final.

MINY began their MLC 2025 campaign with six losses from the first seven games before scripting the turnaround that saw them clinch the title.

Brief Scores, MINY vs WAF MLC 2025 final: 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 five runs.

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