Ravindra, Ferguson shine but Washington Freedom suffer heartbreak against MI New York in MLC 2025 final

It was not how we wanted to wrap up our memorable Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 campaign. Washington Freedom gave their everything on the field, but eventually suffered a heartbreaking loss against MI New York in the MLC 2025 Final at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Sunday.

Opting to bowl first, Lockie Ferguson delivered an outstanding spell of 3/21 to help us restrict MI New York to 180/7 in their 20 overs.

Apart from Ferguson, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar, Jack Edwards and Glenn Maxwell chipped in with one scalp each.

Later, Rachin Ravindra produced a batting masterclass of 70 off 41 balls, along with valiant efforts from Glenn Phillips (48 not out) and Jack Edwards (33), however, it wasn’t enough as we fell short by five runs in a last-over thriller.

Earlier, our bowlers were off to a challenging start as MINY openers Monank Patel and wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock forged a 72-run stand.

Later, in the eighth over, Lockie Ferguson provided us with the much-needed breakthrough after our star pacer removed Monank, courtesy of a great catch by Rachin Ravindra.

All-rounder Ian Holland soon joined the party as he dismissed Tajinder Dhillon in the 10th over.

After losing two quick wickets, captain Nicholas Pooran and de Kock stitched a crucial partnership for the third wicket.

Left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar later got us the huge breakthrough of the opposition skipper Pooran to end a 56-run partnership in the 16th over.

In the following over, Ferguson continued his exceptional spell as he removed de Kock and Kieron Pollard to reduce MINY to 149/5.

In the final few overs, captain Glenn Maxwell cleaned up Michael Bracewell, while Jack Edwards got the better of Tristan Luus to help us restrict MINY to 180/7.

Chasing 181, our batters were off to a tough start as we lost Mitchell Owen and wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous in the opening over.

Batting at No.4, Edwards took little time to settle as he slammed Dhillon for a boundary in the second over.

Ravindra soon smashed Trent Boult for a four, while Edwards clobbered the MINY pacer for a maximum to accumulate 12 runs in the next over.

Edwards and Ravindra kept the momentum going with some scintillating shots as we raced to fifty in 5.1 overs. Meanwhile, the swashbuckling duo smacked Nosthush Kenjige for four boundaries to amass 19 runs in the sixth over.

However, the brilliant 84-run stand for the third wicket came to an end as Edwards departed for a 22-ball 33 in the ninth over. Edwards’ quick-fire knock included two fours and two sixes.

At the other end, Ravindra notched up his fifty off just 24 balls in his 100th T20 game.

Ravindra added crucial 46 runs with Glenn Phillips for the fourth wicket before the southpaw fell for 70, laced with eight fours and two sixes.

With 51 needed off 28 balls, skipper Maxwell joined Phillips at the crease.

Following Ravindra’s dismissal, Phillips took charge as he slammed Luus for back-to-back sixes, and later racked up 17 runs in the 18th over.

Phillips continued the assault as he hit Boult for a maximum, and with the help of Maxwell managed to score 12 runs in the penultimate over.

Needing 12 runs in the final over, we succumbed to a massive blow as we lost Maxwell and eventually fell short by five runs.

“We had such a great tournament. We were front runners for a long point throughout the tournament. We had been at the top the whole way through. To lose tonight was a bitter pill to swallow. Credit to MINY for getting home,” Maxwell said after the game.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat, it was a special season for us with plenty of positives and tonnes of memories. We promise, we will be back next season, better and stronger. Until next time, Freedom Family!

Washington Freedom vs MI New York, MLC 2025 Championship match, brief scores: MINY 180/7 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 77, Monank Patel 28; Lockie Ferguson 3/21) beat WF 175/5 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 70, Glenn Phillips 48 not out; Trent Boult 2/32) by 5 runs.