Brought to you by Batball USA – Your Home for American Cricket

Despite persistent rain soaking Broward County Cricket Stadium this week during the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 outing, the groundsmen deserve immense praise for their tireless efforts to maintain pristine playing conditions. Their dedication ensured that the games went ahead as planned, setting the stage for an electrifying double header in Florida, where teams fought fiercely to keep their championship hopes alive.

Match 1: MI New York (MINY) vs. Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR)

In the afternoon clash, MI New York faced off against Los Angeles Knight Riders in a must-win game for both sides. LAKR won the toss and elected to bowl first on a damp outfield, a decision that paid dividends early. Shadley Van Schalkwyk was the standout performer with the ball, using his variations and intelligent bowling to claim three crucial wickets.

His spell kept MINY’s batting lineup in check, restricting them to a modest 142/9 in 20 overs. Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard played vital roles in the middle overs, ensuring MINY had a fighting total to defend, though it was well below par for the venue.

MINY’s bowling attack, featuring the likes of Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Jack Bracewell, Pollard, and Ehsan Adil, was determined to stretch the game into the death overs. LAKR’s chase was anchored by a brilliant 59 from Unmukt Chand, who played technically sublime shots to keep his team in contention.

However, in a surprising move, LAKR retired Chand out, showing a lack of faith in his ability to finish the chase. Despite being in a strong position with wickets in hand for 18 overs, LAKR faltered under pressure. Ehsan Adil held his nerve in a dramatic final over, delivering a masterclass to secure a nail-biting victory for MINY, keeping their campaign alive.

Match 2: Seattle Orcas vs. Texas Super Kings (TSK)

The evening game pitted the Seattle Orcas, coming off three consecutive wins but a recent loss, against a red-hot Texas Super Kings in a do-or-die encounter. The Orcas won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the bowler-friendly conditions. However, their bowling and fielding were lackluster, allowing TSK’s Faf du Plessis and domestic star Shubham Ranjane to dominate.

The duo toyed with the Orcas’ bowlers, scoring consistently and quickly to propel TSK to a formidable 188/4. In a selfless act, Faf retired out to make way for Donovan Ferreira, who was striking the ball cleanly, prioritizing the team’s needs over a personal milestone like a third century—a true reflection of the spirit of T20 cricket.

Chasing 189 on a tricky pitch was always going to be a monumental task for the Orcas. The return of David Warner after a four-game absence failed to spark the batting lineup, and Shayan Jahangir, dropped to number three, also fell early.

Shimron Hetmyer and Sikandar Raza offered some resistance, but their dismissals triggered a collapse. The Orcas’ batting, bowling, and fielding never clicked, leading to another bowling-out this season. With this loss, the Orcas are all but eliminated.

MI New York’s resilience and ability to win under pressure have kept them in the hunt for the MLC 2025 championship, a testament to their stellar performance throughout the round-robin stage. Meanwhile, the Texas Super Kings continue their sublime form, solidifying their status as title contenders. The final round-robin matches tomorrow will serve as practice for the playoff-bound teams, setting the stage for an exciting climax to the tournament.

Kudos to the Broward County groundsmen for making this thrilling day of cricket possible, and to the teams for delivering edge-of-the-seat entertainment in true MLC fashion!

© 2025 Batball USA. All photos and content are copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.