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The Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season heated up with an electrifying double header in Florida, showcasing intense battles, standout debuts, and high-octane performances. Despite a lightning delay in the first game, fans were treated to two gripping matches that capped off the round-robin stage. Here’s a recap of the action.

Game 1: Washington Freedom vs. MI New York

The afternoon clash faced a brief delay due to lightning warnings, but the game kicked off with a reduced 18 overs per side. Washington Freedom won the toss and elected to field, a decision that paid dividends as they restricted MI New York (MINY) to a modest 112 runs.

MINY, opting to rest key players like Kieron Pollard, shuffled their lineup, giving opportunities to fresh faces. Kunwarjeet Singh seized the moment, scoring a vital 33 runs, but no other batter could make a significant impact. Freedom’s bowling attack, led by Glenn Maxwell, was relentless. Maxwell continued his stellar form, claiming 3 wickets for 29 runs. Debutant Tristan Luss also impressed, picking up 2 wickets in his first MLC outing.

Chasing 113, Freedom reshuffled their batting order, promoting Andries Gous to the top. Gous justified the move with a blistering 46 runs off 34 balls, steering Freedom to a comfortable victory. The win cemented Freedom’s position at the top of the points table with 16 points, heading into the playoffs with momentum.

Game 2: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs. San Francisco Unicorns

The second game saw an already-eliminated Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) take on the San Francisco Unicorns in a high-scoring thriller. LAKR’s batting came alive, with openers Andre Fletcher and Alex Hales tearing into the Unicorns’ bowling attack at a staggering 12 runs per over in the first 10 overs. After Hales’ departure, Sherfane Rutherford joined Fletcher, and the duo continued the onslaught, even after a brief rain delay reduced the game to 19 overs.

LAKR posted a daunting 244, one of the season’s best batting displays. However, their fielding woes kept the Unicorns in the hunt. Shadley van Schalkwyk dropped three consecutive catches, and Corne Dry let two slip, giving the Unicorns’ batters extra lives.

San Francisco’s Sanjay Krishnamurthy led the chase with a sensational 92 off 40 balls, supported by Hasan Khan and Hammad Azam. Despite their efforts, the Unicorns fell short by 11 runs. The game’s standout was 25-year-old domestic debutant Karthik Gattepalli, who made an instant impact for LAKR. Gattepalli struck with his first ball and finished with an impressive 3 for 31 in his 4 overs, marking himself as a player to watch.

The Florida double header wrapped up the MLC 2025 round-robin stage, setting the stage for an explosive playoff series. With Washington Freedom leading the pack, the final four games promise more drama. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion of the MLC 2025 season!

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