The winners of the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC), MI New York have qualified for the 2025 edition's final. After several defeats at the league stage, MI New York found momentum. In the MLC 2025 Challenger clash, Kieron Pollard's blitz and Nicholas Pooran's anchor knock helped MI New York beat Faf du Plessis' Texas Super Kings by seven wickets and an over to spare to reach the final against defending champions Washington Freedom.
Du Plessis hits fifty
Earlier MI New York won the toss and opted to bowl first. Smit Patel fell to Tristan Luus for a single-digit score in the fourth over. Du Plessis' catch was dropped in the fifth over by Pollard. Saiteja Mukkamalla and Shubham Ranjane failed to make an impact and fell to Rushil Ugarkar and Luus respectively. Texas Super Kings were 43/3 after powerplay overs. Marcus Stoinis struggled to get going. Meanwhile, Du Plessis reached his fifty from 34 balls. Super Kings were 67/3 at the halfway stage.
Hosein's maiden fifty takes Super Kings to fighting total
Agarkar ended Stoinis' troubled stay at the crease. He scored just six runs from 11 balls. Luus returned to dismiss Du Plessis. The skipper scored 59 runs from 42 balls, featuring seven fours and a six. Donovan Ferreira and Akeal Hosein went berserk in the slog overs. Pollard was expensive with the ball. Hosein hit him for two sixes and a four to reach his maiden T20 fifty. Hosein scored 55 runs from 32 balls, including four fours and as many sixes. On the other end, Ferreira hit three fours and a six in his 20-ball 32 cameo. Their unbeaten 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket took Super Kings to 166/5.
Poor start in run chase
MI New York's run chase got off to a decent start with Monank Patel finding boundaries. He was dropped by Hosein in the third over. Zia-ul-Haq was introduced into the attack and he delivered with Quinton de Kock's wicket. MI New York were 42/1 after powerplay overs. In the seventh over, Hosein got the better of Michael Bracewell. Monank and Pooran struggled to keep up with the required run rate. At the halfway stage, MI New York were 63/2.
Pollard turns gamechanger again
In the 13th over, Monank hit Noor Ahmad for a six and got out the next delivery. He missed his half-century. The opener scored 49 runs from 39 balls, including five fours and a couple of sixes. Pollard arrived at the crease and smashed Noor for a maximum over long-on. Zia would have dismissed Pollard for a single-digit score but lost the ball in the night sky. In his next over, Pollard hit him for two sixes and two fours. Adam Milne was brought back into the attack. Pooran hit him for a four and a six. In the penultimate over, Pollard hit Stoinis for a couple of boundaries. Then, Pooran smashed a six to reach his fifty and finish the game in style. Pooran scored 52 runs from 36 balls. Pollard contributing with a blazing 22-ball 47.