Cricket in America just had its greatest moment. The final between MI New York (MINY) and Washington Freedom (WAF) gave fans everything they could hope for. Close finish. Heroic performances. Drama till the last ball. This miny vs waf match wasn’t just a game. It was a celebration of Major League Cricket’s rise. The stage was Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The crowd? Electric. Everyone knew this one would be big. No one expected just how big.
MINY batted first. They set a solid score. WAF came close in the chase. But they fell short by 5 runs. Just five runs. The tension? Off the charts. This final proved that cricket in the U.S. is here to stay. Let’s walk through the best moments, performances, stats, and what this result means for MLC’s future.
High Stakes and Smart Starts
WAF won the toss. They chose to bowl. It was a brave call. Chasing is easier in T20s. But finals add pressure. MINY’s batters were ready. They went after the bowlers early. The powerplay saw quick runs. De Kock and Patel looked sharp. Boundaries flowed. The fielders had no chance. It looked like MINY had a plan. And it was working.
MINY’s Powerplay Push Paid Off
The opening pair gave MINY momentum. Quinton de Kock was unstoppable. He smashed boundaries all around the ground. Monank Patel kept things steady. Their 72-run stand laid a strong base.
MINY lost a few quick wickets in the middle. But tail-enders chipped in. The final score? 180/7 in 20 overs. A challenging total on a big night.
Final Match Summary: miny vs waf
Team | Total Runs | Wickets Lost | Overs | Result |
MI New York (MINY) | 180 | 7 | 20 | Won by 5 runs |
Washington Freedom | 175 | 5 | 20 | Lost |
WAF’s Chase: Close, But Not Enough
Washington Freedom started with a shock. Mitchell Owen got out on the first ball. That hurt. Then Gous followed. 0 for 2. But Rachin Ravindra and Jack Edwards rebuilt smartly.
Ravindra played the innings of the night. He scored 70. Calm, confident, and composed. Glenn Phillips added to the total. But they couldn’t find enough big shots in the final overs.
Washington Freedom Innings Breakdown
Batter | Runs | Balls | SR |
Rachin Ravindra | 70 | 41 | 170.73 |
Glenn Phillips | 48* | 34 | 141.18 |
Jack Edwards | 33 | 22 | 150.00 |
Glenn Maxwell | 15 | 16 | 93.75 |
Bowling Heroes of the Night
MINY’s bowlers kept their cool. Trent Boult struck early. Rushil Ugarkar was calm under pressure. Even Pollard bowled tight overs. Each bowler played their role perfectly.
On the WAF side, Lockie Ferguson was fire. He got 3 wickets. Maxwell chipped in too. But they couldn’t stop de Kock early. That was the difference.
Bowling Impact Analysis
Bowler | Team | Overs | Wickets | Economy |
Trent Boult | MINY | 4 | 2 | 8.00 |
Rushil Ugarkar | MINY | 4 | 2 | 8.00 |
Lockie Ferguson | WAF | 4 | 3 | 5.20 |
Glenn Maxwell | WAF | 4 | 1 | 11.50 |
Key Moments That Changed Everything
Finals come down to moments. Here, a few changed the game. Pooran’s dismissal hurt MINY’s scoring rate. But Rushil’s last over turned the match. One tight over. Two wickets. That was all it took. WAF couldn’t hit a six when it mattered. That final ball dot by Ugarkar? Pure gold.
Key Wicket Timeline
Team | Wicket Lost | Fall of Wicket (Overs) |
MINY | Monank Patel | 7.1 |
MINY | Pooran | 15.4 |
WAF | Mitchell Owen | 0.1 |
WAF | Jack Edwards | 8.2 |
WAF | Glenn Maxwell | 19.4 |
Match MVP: Rushil Ugarkar Steps Up
Rushil was fearless. He bowled the final over. He knew it could go either way. But he believed. He stuck to slower balls. His plan worked. He was awarded Player of the Match. And he deserved it. From getting hit in earlier games to now—what a journey.
Captain Pooran’s Vision Pays Off
Pooran led from the front. With the bat and with his mind. He trusted the young bowlers and stayed calm. He made good bowling changes. After the win, he spoke about belief. About trusting your squad. About building something strong. His leadership is a big reason for MINY’s second title.
A Word from the Coaches
Mark Boucher was proud. He praised his squad’s unity. “We stuck together,” he said. “Even after losses, the boys didn’t break.” That mindset won them the final. Ricky Ponting, WAF’s coach, handled the loss with class. He said, “We gave it everything. But finals are about small margins.” He’s right. WAF were one big hit away from glory.
Tournament Awards: Best of the Best
The MLC season had many stars. Some dominated with the bat. Others with the ball. Here’s who stood out the most.
MLC 2025 Awards Recap
Award | Winner |
Player of the Match | Rushil Ugarkar |
Player of the Series | Mitchell Owen |
Most Runs (Tournament) | Monank Patel |
Most Wickets (Tournament) | Xavier Bartlett |
Best Domestic Player | Monank Patel |
U23 Player of the Tournament | Rushil Ugarkar |
Social Media Went Wild
As the match ended, Twitter exploded. #minyvswaf started trending. Fans praised Ugarkar. Others cried for WAF. Videos of the final moments went viral. One fan called it, “the best final in MLC ever.” And they weren’t wrong. The world watched. The world reacted.
Why miny vs waf Will Be Remembered Forever?
There are good matches. There are great matches. Then there are matches like miny vs waf. So close, intense and emotional. It had everything. For MINY, it’s a title. For WAF, it’s heartbreak. But for cricket? It’s growth. This match showed the world that cricket in America is real. And it’s exciting.
Rivalry in the Making?
Two strong teams. Two close games this season. Big names. Passionate captains. The miny vs waf rivalry is born. Expect more thrillers in the next season. These teams aren’t done yet. The fans want more. And they’ll get it.
Top 5 Matches of MLC 2025
Some games this season were instant classics. But none topped the final. Here’s how the top five ranked.
Key Matches in MLC 2025
Match | Winner | Margin | Top Performer |
MINY vs WAF (Final) | MI New York | 5 runs | Quinton de Kock (77) |
WAF vs SFU (Qualifier) | Washington Freedom | 21 runs | Glenn Maxwell (68*) |
MINY vs TSK (Eliminator) | MI New York | 2 wickets | Pollard (41* & 2 wkts) |
MINY vs LAKR (League Match) | MI New York | 6 wickets | de Kock (62) |
WAF vs Orcas (League Match) | Washington Freedom | 8 wickets | Rachin Ravindra (54) |
Final Thoughts: The Legacy of miny vs waf
This wasn’t just a final. It was a statement. The miny vs waf match showed that Major League Cricket is a serious league. It has stars. It has fans. And now—it has history. For MI New York, it’s another trophy. For Washington Freedom, its motivation for cricket fans. It’s a new rivalry to follow. And for MLC—it’s only the beginning. The confetti has settled. But the echoes of this match will live on.
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