MLC 2025 Archives

MI New York clinch MLC 2025 title with thrilling victory over Washington Freedom

DALLAS: Rushil Ugarkar held his nerve in a tense final over to help MI New York script a stunning turnaround and lift their second Major League Cricket (MLC) title with a thrilling win over defending champions Washington Freedom at Grand Prairie Stadium on Sunday.

After losing seven of their ten league matches, MI New York’s path to the title looked improbable.

But the Nicholas Pooran-led side staged a remarkable resurgence, defeating San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator and Texas Super Kings in Qualifier 2 to storm into the final, where they edged past Washington Freedom in a dramatic last-over finish.

Put into bat first, MI New York’s openers provided a flying start. Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock raced to 72 in just seven overs before Lockie Ferguson struck to remove Patel for a steady 28 off 22.

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While wickets continued to fall at regular intervals from one end, de Kock remained relentless at the other, bringing up a blistering 77 off 46 balls laced with 10 boundaries and 4 sixes.

Ferguson returned in the 17th over to deliver a double blow, dismissing de Kock and Kieron Pollard in the space of two deliveries.

The innings seemed to be losing momentum before Kunwarjeet Singh Ballagan’s late cameo of 22 powered MI New York to a competitive 180-7.

Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers for Washington Freedom with 3-21, while Netravalkar, Maxwell, Jack Edwards, and Ian Holland chipped in with a wicket each.

In response, Washington Freedom endured a horror start. Trent Boult struck twice in the first over to remove Mitch Owen and Andries Gous for ducks, leaving the defending champions reeling at 0-2.

Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards rebuilt the innings with a crucial 84-run stand for the third wicket.

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Edwards contributed 33 off 24 before being dismissed by Nosthush Kenjige in the ninth over.

Ravindra, however, looked in sublime touch, anchoring the chase with a fluent 70 off 41 deliveries, including eight fours and two sixes.

He was joined by fellow Kiwi Glenn Phillips, and the duo kept Washington in the hunt before Ugarkar struck a vital blow in the 16th over, removing Ravindra and shifting the momentum back to MI New York.

Despite having big hitters like Phillips and skipper Glenn Maxwell at the crease, MI New York’s bowlers tightened the screws.

With 12 needed off the final over, Ugarkar delivered a masterclass in death bowling, dismissing Maxwell for an uncharacteristic 15 off 16 and conceding just six runs to seal a famous win.

Phillips remained unbeaten on 48, but it wasn’t enough as MI New York held their nerve in crunch moments to seal a second MLC title in three seasons.

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All-round Trent Boult guides MI New York past Unicorns in MLC 2025 Eliminator

DALLAS: Trent Boult delivered a clutch all-round performance to guide MI New York to a thrilling two-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at Grand Prairie Stadium on Wednesday.

The result knocked out the Unicorns, who had started the tournament with six straight wins but stumbled when it mattered most, bowing out with a disappointing finish.

Skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that paid off instantly as MI New York’s bowlers ripped through the Unicorns’ top order, leaving them reeling at 16-5 in 4.2 overs.

Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige shared two wickets apiece in the powerplay, while Hassan Khan was run out for a golden duck.

Cooper Connolly tried to halt the collapse with a 19-ball 23 but fell to Tristan Luus just as he began settling in.

The Unicorns found some breathing space through Xavier Bartlett, who counterattacked with a brisk 44 off 24 balls, smashing four sixes and two boundaries to lift the total.

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His resistance ended in the 18th over when Kieron Pollard struck at a crucial moment. Liam Plunkett (7) fell to Rushil Ugarkar soon after, as the Unicorns were bowled out for 131 in 19.1 overs.

Ugarkar was the pick of the bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3 for 19, while Boult and Kenjige finished with two wickets each.

In reply, MI New York got off to a solid start with Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock putting up 43 for the opening stand.

De Kock looked in good touch during his 33 off 24, hitting five boundaries, including a six, before Matthew Short dismissed him. In the same over, Short also removed Pooran for just 1, leaving MI at 45 for 2 at the end of the seventh over.

Despite the twin blows, Michael Bracewell and Monank Patel built a steady third-wicket stand of 36.

But Short returned to break the partnership once again, removing Patel for a composed 33 off 32, which included two sixes.

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That wicket triggered a collapse as MI New York lost five wickets for just 27 runs, slumping from 81-3 to 108-8.

Needing 24 off the last three overs, Boult stepped up with the bat and turned finisher, smashing an unbeaten 22, including two crucial sixes off Hassan Khan, to take MI New York over the line in the final over.

Despite a strong bowling effort that saw him claim four wickets, Hassan Khan’s two sixes to Boult in the death overs proved costly.

Matthew Short was equally effective, finishing with 3 for 22, but couldn’t prevent the Unicorns’ exit.

MI New York will now face Texas Super Kings in Qualifier 2 on July 11. The winner will meet defending champions Washington Freedom in the MLC 2025 final.

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Washington Freedom storm into MLC 2025 final after rain washes out Qualifier 1

DALLAS: Defending champions Washington Freedom have secured a spot in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 final after persistent rain forced the abandonment of Qualifier 1 against Texas Super Kings at Grand Prairie Stadium on Tuesday.

Only the toss was possible on the night, with Washington winning it and electing to bowl first.

Washington made one change to their XI, bringing in Lockie Ferguson in place of Mark Chapman. Texas Super Kings opted for an unchanged lineup from their last outing.

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However, just minutes before the scheduled 7:00 pm start, a lightning advisory was issued, and the pitch was covered.

While the storm eventually passed, heavy rain followed and showed no signs of letting up.

Match officials waited for nearly three hours before officially calling off the game at 9:45 pm local time, 41 minutes before the cut-off time for a five-over contest.

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With no reserve day scheduled for the fixture, Washington Freedom progressed to the final based on their top finish in the league-stage standings.

This will be their second straight appearance in the MLC final.

The Super Kings will now face the winner of the Eliminator, between MI New York and San Francisco Unicorns, in Qualifier 2, which is set to be played on Thursday.

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MLC 2025: Fletcher’s ton helps Knight Riders deny Unicorns top-two finish

LAUDERHILL: Andre Fletcher produced a blistering century to end the Los Angeles Knight Riders’ Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 campaign on a high, helping his side defeat San Francisco Unicorns by 11 runs in a high-scoring contest on Sunday.

The bottom-ranked Knight Riders may be out of the tournament, but they ended it with a bang, denying the Unicorns a place in the top two.

Batting first in the rain-affected contest, Los Angeles Knight Riders posted a daunting 243/3 on the back of Fletcher’s breathtaking 118 off 58 balls, his second century this season. His knock featured 10 boundaries and 8 towering sixes.

Fletcher added 94 runs with Alex Hales (58 off 26) for the opening stand before joining forces with Sherfane Rutherford (49 off 28) to pile on the misery for the Unicorns.

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The momentum never dipped, even with a mid-innings rain delay, and Knight Riders set the Unicorns a DLS-adjusted target of 245.

The chase never really took off for the San Francisco Unicorns as debutant Karthik Gattepali made an instant impact, removing Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk in the same over, leaving the Unicorns in tatters at 7-3.

Despite a valiant counterattack from Sanjay Krishnamurthi (92 off 40) and handy contributions from Hassan Khan (35) and Hammad Azam (38), the Unicorns fell short.

Jason Holder’s timely breakthroughs, including the big wicket of Krishnamurthi and Shadley van Schalkwyk’s clutch final over, sealed the deal for LA Knight Riders.

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Needing 18 off the last over, San Francisco Unicorns collapsed under pressure, losing Bartlett (27) and Ben Lister (0) in successive deliveries to fall 11 runs short.

Washington Freedom had earlier defeated MI New York by six wickets, ensuring a top-two finish with 8 wins in 10 games and securing their place in Qualifier 1.

Despite their loss, MI New York also booked an MLC 2025 playoff berth thanks to a superior net run rate over the Seattle Orcas, with both sides tied on three wins apiece.

San Francisco Unicorns, meanwhile, missed out on the Qualifier and will now face MI New York in the Eliminator on July 9. Washington Freedom will clash with Texas Super Kings in Qualifier 1 a day earlier in Dallas.

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MLC 2025: Texas Super Kings go top as Du Plessis, Milne star in win over Seattle Orcas

LAUDERHILL: Faf du Plessis’s blazing 91 and Adam Milne’s fiery five-wicket haul sealed the top spot for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 with a 51-run win over Seattle Orcas here on Sunday.

Chasing a daunting 189-run target, Seattle Orcas crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 137 runs in 18.4 overs.

The victory propelled the Faf du Plessis Texas Super Kings to the top position with 14 points from 10 matches.

Seattle Orcas had a poor start as Texas Super Kings swiftly removed the top three batters inside seven overs. David Warner was the first one to go in the fourth over, bowled by Adam Milne after scoring nine off 10 deliveries.

Incoming batter, Shayan Jahangir, made his way to the pavilion on the last ball of the same over for a golden duck as Orcas were reduced to 29-2.

Super Kings’ bowlers kept Orcas batters on the ropes as they removed their top scorer Kyle Mayers in the seventh over. The left-handed batter scored 35 off 28 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.

With the required run rate creeping and wickets tumbling at regular intervals, Seattle Orcas never looked in the chase and were eventually bowled out.

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For Texas Super Kings, Adam Milne wreaked havoc with the ball, taking a five-wicket haul for just 23 runs in 3.4 overs. Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put in to bat first, the Texas Super Kings posted 188-4 in their allocated 20 overs.

After losing two wickets for 49 runs in 7.1 overs, skipper Faf du Plessis partnered with Shubham Ranjane for a remarkable 132-run partnership to propel the Super Kings to a formidable total.

Ranjane remained unbeaten on 65 with the aid of three sixes and four boundaries while Du Plessis retired out after scoring 91 off 52 deliveries. The skipper’s brisk knock featured half a dozen fours and four sixes.

In another match, MI New York defeated Los Angeles Knight Riders by six runs to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Veteran batter Kieron Pollard fired on all cylinders with his all-round show. The 38-year-old took a wicket and scored 50 off 36 balls in the run chase to take his team home.

Put into bat first, MI posted 142-9 in their allocated 20 overs, courtesy of Kieron Pollard’s half-century lower down the order.

For Los Angeles Knight Riders, Shadley van Schalkwyk bagged three wickets in his three overs.

However, in reply, the Knight Riders fell short, managing to score only 136-4 in their 20 overs, thanks to the economical bowling display from MI bowlers.

For MI New York, Nosthush Kenjige and Kieron Pollard picked up a wicket each

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MLC 2025: Washington Freedom crush Seattle Orcas as playoff race heats up

LAUDERHILL: Washington Freedom produced a ruthless all-round display to hammer Seattle Orcas by eight wickets in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, giving their playoff hopes a major boost and delivering a heavy blow to a resurgent Orcas unit on Friday.

Washington Freedom’s bowlers were on fire from the first ball after winning the toss and opting to bowl, ripping through a batting lineup that had come in riding high on a three-match winning streak.

Seattle Orcas were bundled out for just 82 in 17.4 overs, a collapse that not only hurt their momentum but also dented their net run rate ahead of the business end of the tournament.

Saurabh Netravalkar struck with the very first delivery of the match, removing Shayan Jahangir, and the carnage only intensified.

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Glenn Maxwell picked up three key wickets in the powerplay, including Steven Taylor (1) and Kyle Mayers (1), as the Orcas slumped to 21/5 after six overs.

Netravalkar finished with 3 for 13, while Maxwell returned brilliant figures of 3 for 12 in his four overs.

Jack Edwards also joined the party with a 3-wicket haul, cleaning up the tail and dismissing the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who was the only one to show any fight with a gritty 48 off 39 balls.

Chasing a modest 83, Washington never looked under pressure. Even after losing Mitchell Owen (6) early, Rachin Ravindra and Mukhtar Ahmed put together a fluent 42-run stand to keep things steady.

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Ravindra made 32 off 23 before falling, but Mukhtar finished the job in style, staying unbeaten on 36 off 21 balls as Freedom wrapped up the chase in just 9.2 overs.

With this win, Washington Freedom jumped to second on the MLC 2025 points table, giving themselves a strong chance of finishing in the top two and earning a playoff advantage.

For the Seattle Orcas, despite the heavy defeat, the earlier three-game winning run keeps them alive in the playoff race as they sit in fourth place after nine games.

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MLC 2025: Shimron Hetmyer powers Seattle Orcas past table-toppers San Francisco Unicorns

LAUDERHILL: Shimron Hetmyer continued his red-hot form on Tuesday night as he powered the Seattle Orcas to a crucial win over table-toppers San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Chasing 169 on a sluggish Lauderhill pitch, Seattle were in early trouble at 18 for 2. But Hetmyer stepped in with a stunning 78* off just 37 balls, laced with four boundaries and seven massive sixes, to drag the Orcas over the line with three balls to spare.

It was Seattle’s third straight win after five consecutive losses, and with two games remaining, they now sit firmly in playoff contention.

Earlier, San Francisco Unicorns posted 168/5 after being invited to bat. Despite losing Matthew Short in the opening over, they recovered well in the Powerplay, reaching 51/2.

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Quickfire contributions from Finn Allen (23 off 15) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (35 off 22) set the tone, but Seattle struck back at 62/3.

The middle-order was held together by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who hammered four sixes in his 28-ball 40, stitching a 57-run partnership with Tim Seifert (31* off 37).

However, Waqar Salamkheil’s timely strikes helped the Orcas pull things back in the death overs.

In response, Seattle’s top order crumbled. Steven Taylor registered a 10-ball duck, Kyle Mayers managed just three, and Xavier Bartlett had the Orcas wobbling at 18/2.

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Shayan Jahangir (36) and Sikandar Raza (11) attempted a brief recovery but fell in quick succession, leaving the chase in disarray at 56/4.

However, Shimron Hetmyer launched his innings with intent, smoking three sixes in his first seven deliveries and refusing to let the required rate climb out of reach.

Even as wickets kept falling at the other end, including the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen (5), Hetmyer kept the scoreboard moving with calculated aggression.

With eight runs needed off the final over, Hetmyer started with a dot but responded in style, smashing a towering six over long-on, followed by a crisp cut through the offside to seal the win.

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Faf du Plessis propels Texas Super Kings into MLC 2025 playoffs

DALLAS: Faf du Plessis put on a batting clinic with an unbeaten century before Akeal Hosein weaved a tidy spell as Texas Super Kings sealed their spot in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 playoffs with a commanding 39-run win over MI New York on Sunday.

After being asked to bat first, Texas lost Smit Patel (3) early, but that only opened the door for du Plessis to take charge.

The skipper shifted gears instantly, racing to a 21-ball half-century and taking on the MI New York attack with authority.

He found support in Saiteja Mukkamalla (25), who held firm during their 80-run second-wicket stand before falling to George Linde in the ninth over.

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Marcus Stoinis then joined du Plessis for a steady 57-run partnership that allowed the former South African captain to settle into a true anchor role. While Stoinis couldn’t quite break free and eventually fell for 25.

Donovan Ferreira then came out to bat and tore into the bowling with a 20-ball 53, matching the fastest fifty in MLC history.

His late-innings onslaught gave du Plessis the perfect foil to continue ticking along, eventually raising his bat for a sublime 103* off just 56 deliveries.

It was his second hundred of the season and eighth in T20s, laced with five fours and nine towering sixes as Texas piled on a daunting 223/4.

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Chasing 224, MI New York never truly got into the contest.

Nandre Burger struck early to remove Nicholas Pooran, and then Akeal Hosein put the clamps on the middle order with a miserly 3-15 spell that included the big wickets of Monank Patel (6) and Quinton de Kock (35).

Kieron Pollard did briefly threaten to shift the momentum with a trademark six-hitting spree, especially when he smashed 22 runs off a single over from Noor Ahmad. But the task was a bridge too far.

Pollard’s fighting 70 off 39 balls proved to be a lone hand as the chase fizzled out. Burger and Stoinis came back to snuff out any lingering hopes, restricting MI New York to 184/8 in their 20 overs.

With this clinical win, Texas Super Kings not only preserved their strong run in the tournament but also booked a well-earned place in the MLC 2025 playoffs.

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MLC 2025: Shimron Hetmyer stars as Seattle Orcas clinch back-to-back thrillers

DALLAS: Shimron Hetmyer 64* and Aaron Jones’ gutsy 73 powered Seattle Orcas to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at Grand Prairie Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a daunting 203-run target, Seattle Orcas hit the winning runs on the last ball of the penultimate over with five wickets in hand.

The winning team required five from the last over; however, Shadley van Schalkwyk gave only two in the first four balls, making the match tense.

Nonetheless, it was Shimron Hetmyer again who hit the winning runs with a maximum of the last ball.

In pursuit of the target, opener Josh Brown was sent packing for a golden duck on the very second ball of the first over. But, Shayan Jahangir and incoming batter Aaron Jones steadied Orcas’ ship with a mammoth 119-run partnership in just 11 overs.

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Just when Orcas were cruising, Jones was caught after scoring an explosive 73 off 38 balls, peppered with 10 boundaries and two maximums.

The Knight Riders made a roaring comeback in the match with successive wickets in the 12th over, reducing Seattle Orcas to 127-4.

Shayan, who scored 43 off 31 deliveries with the help of three sixes and two fours, was the first to go, while explosive batter Henrich Klaasen could only manage to score five.

Despite the wickets tumbling in a heap, Shimron Hetmyer kept his nerve and took his team home in another scintillating innings. The south paw unbeaten knock featured four boundaries and half a dozen towering maximums.

For the Los Angeles Knight Riders, Tanveer Sangha and Jason Holder picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into bat, the Los Angeles Knight Riders posted 202-4 in their allocated 20 overs.

Knight Riders scored a mammoth total despite losing 48-3 in 7.4 overs, with Andre Russell and Saif Badar scoring the bulk of runs in an 81-run stand.

Russell smashed 65 off 39 deliveries, an innings laced with four sixes, while Badar’s brisk 41-run knock featured two fours and an equal number of sixes.

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With Knight Riders 129-4 in 14.3 overs, Rovman Powell partnered with Russell in a blazing stand. Powell smashed four sixes and two boundaries in his 43-run knock.

In another match, Washington Freedom secured a 12-run win over table toppers San Francisco Unicorns, thanks to a fiery five-wicket haul from Mitchell Owen.

Chasing a challenging 170-run target, Unicorns crumbled under pressure and could only manage to score 157-9 in their 20 overs.

For Washington, Freed Glenn Phillips starred with the bat, scoring 58 off 39 balls, while Mitchell Owen shone with the ball, taking five for 17 in three overs.

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Fletcher’s century in vain as Washington Freedom edge LA Knight Riders in last-ball thriller

DALLAS: Andre Fletcher’s explosive century went in vain as Washington Freedom pulled off a dramatic final-ball victory over Los Angeles Knight Riders in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at the Grand Prairie Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a daunting 214-run target, Freedom sealed the win off the final delivery, registering the second-highest successful run chase in MLC history.

The victory not only brought them within touching distance of playoff qualification but also helped them leapfrog Texas Super Kings to claim the second spot on the points table.

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Earlier, the Los Angeles Knight Riders piled up 213-4 after being asked to bat first.

Fletcher led the charge with a sensational 104 off just 60 balls, anchoring the innings with authority. Despite the onslaught, Washington Freedom bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs throughout the innings.

In reply, Freedom got off to a flying start, courtesy of Mitchell Owen’s 43 and Andries Gous’ 31, laying the foundation for a competitive chase.

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Skipper Glenn Maxwell kept the momentum going with a brisk 42 before falling short of a half-century.

The decisive blow came through the unbeaten partnership between Glenn Phillips (33*) and Obus Pienaar (23*), who stitched together a crucial 59-run stand to take their side home in a nail-biting finish.

With this result, Washington Freedom continue their strong campaign in MLC 2025, while Knight Riders remain in search of consistency despite individual brilliance.

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