MLC 2025 final | MINY beat Washington Freedom by five runs in thrilling final match

‌Glenn Maxwell had won the toss and chose to bowl first on a wicket where a lot of big scores were chased down in the past. The MINY openers had started well with both Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel looking good at the crease. The duo put on 72 runs for the opening stand before Patel was dismissed by Lockie Ferguson in the eighth over.

Despite the minor hiccup, de Kock continued to counter-attack the Washington bowlers and formed another important partnership with Nicholas Pooran. Though MINY was looking good for a 200+ score at the end of 15 overs, the defending champion broke the partnership as Pooran was deceived by a slower delivery by Saurabh Netravalkar on a score of 21 in the 16th over and Ferguson struck twice in the following over dismissing the South African batter on 77 and Kieron Pollard to complete his three-wicket haul. The New York franchise could only add 35 in the last five and ended the first innings on a score of 180-7.

Unlike MINY, the Glenn Maxwell-led side did not start the chase well as Trent Boult started proceeding with a double-wicket maiden in the first over itself dismissing in-form players Mitchell Owen and Andries Gous. However, despite the abysmal start, Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards got the defending champions back in the game, putting on a third-wicket partnership of 84. 

Though Edwards was dismissed in the ninth over by Nosthush Kenjige, Ravindra continued to form a partnership with Glen Philips. However, the game suddenly took a dramatic turn in the 16th over as Young American pacer Rushil Ugarkar got the wicket of Ravindra on a score of 70, bringing Maxwell to the crease, who was struggling to time the ball. Despite Philips' efforts to bring the game back in the balance and leaving only 12 runs in the final over, which was to be bowled by Ugarikar. The 22-year-old fast bowler kept his nerves, conceding only six runs and dismissing Maxwell with a well-disguised slower delivery to help his side win their second MLC title. 

He was also adjudged the player of the match in the final for his match-winning spell of 2/32 in his four overs.