MI NY vs WAF: In a dramatic season of turnarounds, MI New York (MI NY) staged one of the biggest comeback acts in the history of T20 franchises as they won the MLC 2025 Final with a heart-stopping 5-run triumph over defending champions Washington Freedom (WAF) in Dallas at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Final-Over Drama: Ugarkar Reaches for Stars to Seal Win
Chasing 180, MI NY left the last over to 22-year-old Rushil Ugarkar as Washington Freedom required 12 runs with Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips at the wickets. Maxwell and Phillips shared singles off the first two deliveries, but pressure started to build after Maxwell missed a wild heave on the third.
With 10 required off 3, Maxwell attempted to play big once more but was caught by long-on by Michael Bracewell. Obus Pienaar missed the penultimate delivery, and 10 off the last ball proved too much as MI NY celebrated a fairytale finish.
Boult Strikes Early as Freedom Falter in Chase
Washington Freedom’s run chase got off to a horror start as Trent Boult removed Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous for ducks in the first over. Rachin Ravindra (70 off 41) and Jack Edwards (33 off 22) saved the innings with a good 84-run partnership.
But after Edwards got out to Nosthush Kenjige and Ravindra chopped one to extra cover off Ugarkar in the 16th over, MI NY picked up steam. Glenn Phillips’ unscathed 48 and two sixes in the 18th over kept Freedom in the game, but Boult and Ugarkar’s composed death bowling wrapped up the game.
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Quinton de Kock’s 77 Powers MI NY to 180
Previously, Quinton de Kock pioneered MI NY’s run-chase with a smooth 77 off 46 balls, punctuated by 6 fours and 4 sixes. He and Monank Patel (28) added a 72-run opening partnership, setting the platform for a big total. Although Nicholas Pooran contributed 26 and shared a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership with de Kock, Washington hit back in the death overs.
Lockie Ferguson (3/24) was brilliant, isolating de Kock and Kieron Pollard in a match-winning over. Maxwell contributed to Bracewell’s scalp while Netravalkar took out Pooran with a clever slower ball. MI NY lost 5 wickets for only 18 runs, but the unbeaten 22 from Kunwarjeet Singh off 13 helped them post a competitive 180/7, more than enough in the frame of a high-pressure final.
MI NY vs WAF – MLC 2025 Final: Match Summary
MI New York: 180/7 in 20 overs
(Quinton de Kock 77, Monank Patel 28; Lockie Ferguson 3-24)
Washington Freedom: 175/5 in 20 overs
(Rachin Ravindra 70, Glenn Phillips 48*; Trent Boult 2-32, Rushil Ugarkar 2-32)
Result: MI NY won by 5 runs
MI NY’s Stunning Return Marks MLC 2025
From dropping six of their opening seven matches to claiming MLC 2025 glory, MI New York’s journey will go down in the history books. MI NY vs WAF final captured the essence of all that is exciting about T20 cricket, early setbacks, aggressive comebacks, and last-over theatrics. MINY’s first MLC title with a mix of youth and experience signals the dawn of a new era for Major League Cricket.
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