Maxwell: Doesn’t fell good. Hasn’t quite sunk in. Such a good tournament. Probably the front runner for a long period. Bitter pill to swallow. Credit to MINY. I thought we did a good job to claw it back with the ball. The conditions just suited him (Ugarkar). He bowled really well.
McClenaghan | bowling coach: Super proud. We played six games and the way they stood up, couldn’t be more proud of the youngsters.
Boult: Great final, the league deserves that. It’s a tough place to bowl, good wicket, credit to them (Freedom).They were in the game the whole tournament. Credit to the young attack we have got. Tristan and Rush (Ugarkar). To hold his nerve under pressure, he is going to remember that for a long time. They (MI franchise) invest in young players. He (Ugarkar) was part of the net bowlers in the IPL.
Luus: Basically did some prep back home. Just took full advantage of playing here. The culture here makes it very comfortable.
Kieron Pollard: It means a lot. We fought really hard. Everyone wrote us off. There is something in this franchise. The belief the guys showed was unbelievable. Can’t tell the future. I really enjoy my team here. I hadn’t played much cricket since January. Feels good. Feels emotional for myself. Dwayne Bravo, look at me now.
Mark Boucher | MINY coach: Tight games in the tournament. Amazing (to be champions), huge respect to the guys. What a game of cricket. If I am rivaled up against Ricky (Ponting) then I am going in the right direction. He’s a fantastic coach. Lot of these tournaments, it’s not about having the best team on paper but going out there and winning crucial games.
Phillips looks really disappointed. Ponting the head coach of Freedom consoles him. Meanwhile smiling faces in the MINy camp. Also Chris Gayle out there. He is having a chat with Pollard. And now takes out his phone to take a pic.
Lots of flash interviews happening. We will bring them all to you as well as the post-match presentation. Do stay tuned.
22:36 Local Time, 03:36 GMT, 09:06 IST: What a time and place to end your four-time losing streak against a team. That’s what a big final is all about. Doesn’t matter about the past. Have to do it on the day/night and Freedom fall just short. Boult set it up for MINY leaving Freedom 0/2 in the opening over. But then came the counter-attack from Edwards and Ravindra. Both the batters were brilliant as they hit the ball cleanly and just when the game was slipping away, MINY fought back with Edwards’ wicket. Phillips came out and joined Ravindra and another stand came before MINY pulled things back with good bowling. As a result Ravindra fell and Maxwell couldn’t get the boundaries needed. Boult came back and delivered two fine overs to leave 11 for Rushil Ugarkar to defend in the last over. The youngster kept his calm and bowled slower-balls into the wicket and finished it off to spark celebrations in the MINY camp. Freedom will feel really gutted with this final loss. They were the best team in the tournament and just lost two games before tonight this season.
Rushil Ugarkar to Pienaar, FOUR, Pooran sees the ball go for four but he runs forward in jubilation as MINY win the 2025 MLC season. What an over from the 22-year-old Rushil Ugarkar. Against hitters like Phillips and Maxwell and he has come out on top. A slower-ball on a length outside off, Pienaar gets forward and lofts, straight down the ground, beats both long-off and long-on, the ball was near Pooran but he knew even if he did not field that, was enough, so lets it go and then runs forward. Fireworks go off as MINY all celebrate
Rushil Ugarkar to Pienaar, no run, MINY celebrate. They know a legal ball next will do it. A slower-ball on a good length outside off, Pienaar slogs and misses, rolls to de Kock, de Kock tells Rushil Ugarkar to calm down, Pooran is leaping in joy while Boult punches the air
Obus Pienaar, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Rushil Ugarkar to Maxwell, out Caught by Michael Bracewell!! The youngster has got a massive wicket. Another slower-ball on a length on off, Maxwell walks forward and heaves, doesn’t time it and picks out deep mid-wicket who is near the fence. An easy catch and Bracwell reverse-cups with ease. They all go to Rushil Ugarkar to celebrate. Maxwell walks off head down in disappointment. Ponting with a stern look on his face. Pooran with a double fist-pump. Maxwell c Michael Bracewell b Rushil Ugarkar 15(16)
Rushil Ugarkar to Maxwell, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Now MINY definitely favorites. Another chat between Rushil Ugarkar and Pooran. MINY taking their time. 10 off 3.
Rushil Ugarkar to Maxwell, no run, big swing and a miss. A slower-ball into the pitch just outside off, Maxwell aims a big leg-side mow and the ball keeps low to beat the shot, rolls to de Kock
10 off 4, Freedom need a boundary. A chat between Pooran and Rushil Ugarkar. Some can’t bear to watch.
Rushil Ugarkar to Phillips, 1 run, slower-ball on a good length on off, Phillips goes on the back foot and pulls straight to the fielder at deep mid-wicket
Phillips is the man on strike now. He is striking them well.
Rushil Ugarkar to Maxwell, 1 run, slower-ball on a length on off, Maxwell slogs and it’s on the bounce to Tajinder running in from deep square-leg, just one