In a thrilling MI NY vs SF, MLC 2025 Eliminator encounter in Dallas, Trent Boult came out as match-winner with bat and ball, leading MI New York to a heart-stopping two-wicket triumph over San Francisco Unicorns.
The Kiwi veteran plundered an unbeaten 22 from 9 balls, including two crucial sixes off the last two balls of the penultimate over, to register MI New York’s very first victory over SFU in Major League Cricket history.
With the win, MI NY will face Texas Super Kings in the Challenger, while the runners-up from last season, SF Unicorns, are eliminated from the tournament.
Heroics by Boult Overpower Hassan Khan’s Magic Spell
San Francisco looked to be in the driver’s seat when left-arm spinner Hassan Khan pulled off a stunning double-blow twice, taking MI NY from 98/4 to 108/8 in a mere 13 balls. But SF thought they had the game as good as wrapped up when Trent Boult turned the tables.
With 25 runs required off 22 balls, Boult rode the pressure.
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In the 19th over, he smote Hassan for consecutive sixes over deep mid-wicket.
In the last over, requiring 4 runs, Boult calmly led his team home.
Early Collapse: SF Unicorns Collapse Under MINY’s Seam Pressure
MI NY captain Nicholas Pooran won the toss and sent SFU in to bat in overcast conditions, which proved to be a very costly decision for them.
Trent Boult (2/19) and Nosthush Kenjige struck during the PowerPlay, leaving SF at 16/5 within five overs.
Cooper Connolly tried to mount a fightback, but wickets continued to fall as Rushil Ugarkar (3/19) and Tristan Luus subjected the side to continuous pressure.
At 62/7, SFU were facing disaster, but a rearguard alliance by Xavier Bartlett (44 off 24) and Brody Couch contributed 59 off 32, taking the team to a fighting 133 all out.
One-hour rain break caused a delay to the second innings, but importantly, no overs were lost, leaving the target intact as originally set for MI NY. But the chase rapidly turned into a cliffhanger.
MI NY Stutter Against Spin Following Promising Start
Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock began confidently, sprinting to 37/0. Spin, however, applied the brakes:
Matthew Short (3/22) sent both De Kock and Pooran back in the 7th over.
Monank and Michael Bracewell were stuck at 58/2 after 10 overs.
With the rate of required runs increasing, Short again struck to get rid of Monank for 33, followed by Bartlett dismissing Kieron Pollard. Hassan Khan (4/30) then caused panic with his twin double-wicket overs.
Boult’s Unlikely Finish Delivers MI NY’s First Win Over SFU
Just when SFU looked set to hold 133, Boult walked in at No. 9 and produced a finishing display for the ages. With two sixes in the 19th over and composed batting in the 20th, he turned the game firmly in MI NY’s direction.
MI NY vs SF, MLC 2025 – Match Summary
Ground: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
Result: MI New York won by 2 wickets
Key Performers:
Trent Boult: 2/19 & 22* (9)
Hassan Khan: 4/30
Matthew Short: 3/22 & 2 wickets within one over
Xavier Bartlett: 44 (24)
Takeaways from MI NY vs SF, MLC 2025
MI NY steps into the Challenger against the Texas Super Kings
SFU out of MLC 2025
Boult shows why experience cannot be replaced in knockout matches
Hassan Khan and Matthew Short almost wrote a miracle for SF
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