After 10 rounds of white‑knuckle cricket, Washington Freedom, Texas Super Kings, San Francisco Unicorns, and MI New York have booked their tickets to Dallas for the 2025 Major League Cricket play‑offs.
The field was finalized during Sunday’s triple‑header finale, a day that swung from dawn to dusk and re‑shuffled the race before the very last ball was bowled.
Final‑day fireworks
Morning – MI New York vs Los Angeles Knight Riders
Needing one last push to stay ahead of Seattle Orcas on net run rate, MI New York rode Tim David’s 66 off 34 to a seven‑wicket victory. The win nudged their ledger to 3‑7 and, crucially, lifted their NRR just high enough to shut the door on Seattle.
Afternoon – Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas
The Orcas had to win big to leapfrog New York; instead, they ran into a rampant Gerald Coetzee (4‑28) and stumbled to 144 all out. Texas chased it in the 16th over but, paradoxically, the result clipped the Super Kings’ title ambitions—moving them to 7‑3 yet leaving Washington free to seize the No. 1 seed later that night.
Nightcap – Washington Freedom vs San Francisco Unicorns
With the top seed on the line, Freedom’s Chase‑Masters struck again. Steven Smith’s 79 not out anchored a meticulous pursuit of 172, sealing an eighth victory and consigning the Unicorns to a third defeat in four games. Washington’s 8‑2 mark left them two points clear; San Francisco’s 7‑3 record tied Texas but fell behind on net run rate.
How the four reached Dallas
Washington Freedom (8‑2, 16 pts) — The capital franchise made chasing an art form, logging six come‑from‑behind wins—including Sunday’s decisive triumph over San Francisco. Their only stumbles came against the very opponents they now face again.
Texas Super Kings (7‑3, 14 pts) — Faf du Plessis engineered twin three‑game winning streaks and the league’s best net run rate (+1.603). Though tripped in the finale by middling Seattle, they remain the tournament’s most explosive unit.
San Francisco Unicorns (7‑3, 14 pts) — An electric 6‑0 start hinted at a wire‑to‑wire run, but late‑season misfires dropped them to the third rung. Even so, their balanced attack makes them perilous in knockout play.
MI New York (3‑7, 6 pts) — The quintessential survivor. All three victories came against the two clubs now eliminated, but superior net run rate over Seattle kept the door ajar—and MI barged through it on Sunday morning.
Tuesday, July 8 – the play‑off curtain rises
Grand Prairie Stadium will host every postseason clash, each beginning at 7 p.m. Central Daylight Time (Dallas) — that’s 12 a.m. GMT and 5:30 a.m. IST the following morning.
Qualifier 1 – Washington Freedom vs Texas Super Kings
Winner advances straight to Saturday’s Final; loser receives a second chance in Qualifier 2.
Eliminator – MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns
Loser heads home; winner meets the Qualifier 1 runner‑up for a place in the championship match.
Should rain intervene, reserve days have been earmarked, but the forecast promises clear Texan skies and a wicket known for even bounce—ideal for the kind of high‑octane cricket that has defined MLC’s second season.
Final Group‑Stage Standings
| Rank | Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Washington Freedom | 10 | 8 | 2 | 16 | +0.954 |
| 2 | Texas Super Kings | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | +1.603 |
| 3 | San Francisco Unicorns | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | +1.330 |
| 4 | MI New York | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | −0.518 |
| 5 | Seattle Orcas | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | −1.842 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Knight Riders | 10 | 2 | 8 | 4 | −1.320 |
