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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.
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.
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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