Washington Freedom Vs MI New York Match Scorecard.
MLC 2025 Final: A Thrilling Encounter at Grand Prairie.
🏏 Pre‑match Scenario & Road to the Final
Washington Freedom dominated the league stage with an 8‑2 record, finishing top with 16 points. A rain‑hit Qualifier 1 propelled them directly into the final . .
MI New York, contrastingly, endured a shaky group stage, winning just 3 of 10 games (6 points), finishing fourth. Their path to the final required resilience: a win over Seattle in the Eliminator, a 7‑wicket win over Texas in the Challenger, and finally their spot reversed history by stunning Washington in the final .
🏆 Final Scorecard (Sanctioned)
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180/7 | 20.0 | ||
| Washington Freedom | 175/5 | 20.0 |
Player of the Match: Rushil Ugarkar (MI New York) — 4‑0‑32‑2, including the decisive wicket of Maxwell in the final over .
Player of the Series: Mitchell Owen (Washington) – amassed 313 runs at a 194.4 strike rate + took 14 wickets at 19.85 .
Leading run‑getter: Monank Patel (MI NY) — 478 runs at a 142.26 strike rate; also clinched Domestic Player of the Year award .
Leading wicket-taker: Xavier Bartlett (SF Unicorns) – 18 scalps .
🏅 Legacy & What's Next
MI New York
- .
- Strategy validated: youth development, global recruitment, strong mental resilience.
- Likely to build a legacy combining US domestic talent and global stars.
Washington Freedom
- Despite a loss, still a premier team with 2024 title and dominant league form.
- Critical evaluation needed – e.g., toss decision, death bowling tactics.
- Likely to retain core and target redemption in 2026.
Sure! Here's a human-friendly article on the Washington Freedom vs MI New York match in the MLC 2025 Final, designed to be easy to read and engaging for fans:
🏏 Washington Freedom vs MI New York – MLC 2025 Final: A Clash to Remember
The grand finale of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 saw an electrifying face-off between Washington Freedom and MI New York at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on July 13, 2025. It was not just a cricket match; it was a display of emotions, nerves, resilience, and pure cricketing brilliance. In the end, MI New York emerged victorious by 5 runs, clinching their second MLC title after a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
🌟 The Build-Up: Two Teams, One Goal
Washington Freedom – The Dominators
Washington Freedom were favorites going into the final. They had a superb season, finishing top of the league table with 8 wins out of 10. With stars like Glenn Maxwell, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, and pace spearhead Lockie Ferguson, they were a complete package.
Their journey to the final was smooth, and they entered the grand finale after a rain-hit Qualifier 1 that worked in their favor. Expectations were high, especially after their dominant season and 2024 title win.
MI New York – The Comeback Kings
In contrast, MI New York had a rough start to the tournament. They won just 3 out of 10 league games and barely scraped into the playoffs. But cricket is a game of momentum, and MI New York picked theirs just in time.
Led by Nicholas Pooran, with stalwarts like Quinton de Kock, Trent Boult, Kieron Pollard, and young guns like Rushil Ugarkar, they fought through the Eliminator and Challenger to reach the final. Their performance was a testament to never giving up.
🧾 Toss and Teams
Toss: Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to field first, believing they could chase under the lights and manage the pressure with their experienced lineup.
🔥 MI New York Batting – 180/7 in 20 Overs
MI New York started aggressively with openers Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock.
- Monank Patel scored a useful 28 off 22 balls, giving a solid start.
- The real fireworks came from Quinton de Kock, who smashed a stunning 77 off 46 balls, including 6 fours and 4 sixes.
His powerful strokeplay kept the scoreboard ticking and helped MI New York reach 105/1 at the halfway mark.
But Washington fought back with Lockie Ferguson delivering a fiery spell of 3/21, including the big wicket of de Kock and Pollard.
In the final overs, Rushil Ugarkar and Kunwarjeet Singh played handy cameos to push the total to a competitive 180/7.
🔢 MI New York Key Batting Scores:
- Quinton de Kock – 77 (46)
- Monank Patel – 28 (22)
- Rushil Ugarkar – 22* (13)
- Lockie Ferguson – 3/21 (4 overs)
🎯 Washington Freedom Batting – 175/5 in 20 Overs
Freedom's chase began in the worst possible way. Trent Boult, with a dream first over, removed Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous for ducks. They were 0/2 within the first over – a nightmare start in a final!
But Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards showed class and patience with a crucial 84-run partnership that steadied the innings.
- Rachin Ravindra played the innings of his life, scoring a brilliant 70 off 41 balls.
- Jack Edwards added 33, and Glenn Phillips chipped in with a fighting 48 not out.
Despite their efforts, the run rate pressure kept mounting. MI New York’s bowlers, especially Rushil Ugarkar, bowled brilliantly in the death overs.
In the final over, Freedom needed 12 runs. Ugarkar held his nerve, bowled tight lines, and dismissed Glenn Maxwell in a crucial moment. Washington could only manage 175/5, falling short by just 5 runs.
🔢 Washington Freedom Key Batting Scores:
- Rachin Ravindra – 70 (41)
- Glenn Phillips – 48* (30)
- Jack Edwards – 33 (22)
- Trent Boult – 2/29 (4 overs)
- Rushil Ugarkar – 2/32 (4 overs, including final over)
🏆 Final Result
MI New York won by 5 runs and lifted their second MLC title!
🌟 Player of the Match
Rushil Ugarkar – For his crucial 2 wickets, including the final-over heroics, where he defended 12 runs and dismissed Maxwell, turning the game in MI's favor.
đź‘‘ Player of the Series
Mitchell Owen (Washington Freedom) – Despite failing in the final, he had a fantastic season with both bat and ball, scoring over 300 runs and taking 14 wickets.
đź“Š Final Score Summary:
MI New York: 180/7 (20 overs)
Washington Freedom: 175/5 (20 overs)
Result: MI New York won by 5 runs
đź’¬ Post-Match Quotes
đź—Ł️ Nicholas Pooran (MI New York Captain):
“What a journey! We believed in ourselves even when others didn’t. The boys showed heart and class. This title means a lot.”
đź—Ł️ Glenn Maxwell (Washington Captain):
“Tough loss. We had our chances but couldn't finish it off. Credit to MI for holding their nerve.”
đź—Ł️ Rushil Ugarkar (Player of the Match):
“I just wanted to stick to the plan and execute. Getting the final over and finishing the job for my team – it's a dream come true!”
🔍 Match Turning Points
- Boult’s Double Strike: Two wickets in the first over tilted momentum toward MI New York.
- de Kock’s Big Knock: His 77 set a solid platform for MI’s total.
- Ravindra’s Classy Innings: Kept Washington alive in the chase.
- Final Over Magic: Rushil Ugarkar’s final over under pressure was pure gold.
🎉 What This Means for MLC
This final showed the true spirit of MLC – unpredictable, competitive, and full of rising talent. From Washington's dominant run to MI’s comeback story, MLC 2025 proved to be an entertainer till the last ball.
With young stars like Ugarkar making a name and veterans like de Kock still delivering, the tournament continues to bridge global and American cricket beautifully.
The Washington Freedom vs MI New York final was everything a cricket fan could hope for – early drama, big partnerships, stunning comebacks, and a last-over thriller. MI New York may have started as underdogs, but they finished as champions.
As the sun sets on MLC 2025, the memories of this incredible final will shine bright. Both teams deserve applause, but the trophy rests with MI New York – the Kings of American T20 Cricket once again.
đź“ť Final Takeaway
The MLC 2025 Final was a masterpiece of T20 drama—two contrasting halves, strategic pivots, powerplay violence, middle-innings tension, and a final-over nailbiter. MI New York’s late-season resurgence, capped with de Kock’s unstoppable batting and Ugarkar’s plucky finishing, typified gritty cricket. Washington fought valiantly, but tiny margins — a few overs, a handful of runs — decided their fate.
History was made: an underdog champion and an emerging superstar in Ugarkar. For fans, it reinforced the unpredictable allure of T20; for players, a lesson in belief and execution; for MLC, testimony to its rising stature in US cricket.
If you’d like, I can break this down further into player interviews, ball-by-ball highlights, or tactical diagrams. Let me know what you’d like to explore next!
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