MI New York Clinch Second MLC Title in Thrilling Final

In a pulsating finale that went right down to the wire, MI New York clinched their second Major League Cricket (MLC) title, edging out Washington Freedom by just five runs. With 12 needed from the final over, all eyes were on young USA seamer Rushil Ugarkar. Despite facing the formidable duo of Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips, Ugarkar delivered an ice-cool over, conceding just six runs and dismissing Maxwell with a clever offcutter.

“π‘¬π’—π’†π’“π’šπ’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’‚π’” π’”π’•π’‚π’„π’Œπ’†π’… π’‚π’ˆπ’‚π’Šπ’π’”π’• π’‰π’Šπ’Ž,” 𝒃𝒖𝒕 π‘Όπ’ˆπ’‚π’“π’Œπ’‚π’“ 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 π’‰π’Šπ’” 𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’—π’Šπ’„π’•π’π’“π’š 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝑰𝑡𝒀. π‘·π’‰π’Šπ’π’π’Šπ’‘π’”, π’˜π’‰π’ π’˜π’‚π’” π’Šπ’ π’”π’†π’π’”π’‚π’•π’Šπ’π’π’‚π’ 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 π’π’π’π’š 𝒐𝒏𝒆 π’…π’†π’π’Šπ’—π’†π’“π’š π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓.

Phillips’ Late Assault Sets Up Thrilling Finish

Before Ugarkar’s heroics, Washington Freedom had clawed back into the contest, mainly thanks to Phillips’ late fireworks. At the end of the 17th over, Phillips was on 25 off 27 balls, with the required rate climbing past 13 runs per over.

He then unleashed two huge sixes off Tristan Luus in an 18th over that cost 17 runs and followed it with another maximum off Trent Boult. That left Freedom needing 12 off the final six deliveries, but Ugarkar’s pinpoint cutters proved decisive.

“𝑾𝒆 π’˜π’†π’“π’† π’“π’Šπ’ˆπ’‰π’• π’Šπ’ π’Šπ’• π’•π’Šπ’π’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’—π’†π’“π’š 𝒆𝒏𝒅,” π‘·π’‰π’Šπ’π’π’Šπ’‘π’” 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’… 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’•π’‰π’“π’Šπ’π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’‡π’Šπ’π’‚π’π’†.

Ravindra Anchors Freedom’s Innings

Chasing 181, Washington were rocked early when Boult struck twice in the first over. But Rachin Ravindra, who had struggled throughout the tournament, rose to the occasion with a sparkling 70 off 41 balls. His knock featured two sixes and eight fours and kept Freedom in the hunt after the top order crumbled.

He combined with Jack Edwards for a brisk 84-run stand off just 45 balls. However, the partnership between Ravindra and Phillips, which added 46 runs in 42 balls, lacked the urgency needed to keep up with the climbing run rate.

De Kock Lays the Platform

Earlier, after Freedom captain Maxwell chose to field, MI New York’s innings was driven by Quinton de Kock’s explosive 77 from 46 deliveries. He forged a 72-run opening stand with Monank Patel in just 44 balls and later partnered Nicholas Pooran for another vital 56-run stand.

While Lockie Ferguson pegged MI back with 3 for 21, Kunwarjeet Singh’s late cameo (22 off 13) helped push their total to a competitive 180 for 7.

Despite a spirited chase from Washington, MI New York always seemed a step ahead, thanks to the early momentum and Ugarkar’s composure in the final over.

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