If you were watching the scoreboard during the 2025 season, you know things got absolutely wild. Seriously. Cricket in America isn't just "happening" anymore; it’s exploding. We saw scores that would make a seasoned pro do a double-take.
Take the opening match between the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom. San Francisco put up a massive 269/5. Yeah, you read that right. Finn Allen went nuclear, smashing 151 off just 51 balls. That’s not just a high score; it’s a statement. It was the fastest century in league history—34 balls. Basically, the ball spent more time in the air than on the grass.
What the Major League Cricket Scores Really Mean
Honestly, if you're just looking at the final numbers, you’re missing the drama. The 2025 season was defined by a massive turnaround. MI New York, the team everyone thought was dead in the water after losing six of their first seven games, somehow clawed their way back. They finished fourth in the league stage with only three wins. You’d think they’d be an easy out in the playoffs, right? Wrong.
They took down the San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator and then bypassed the Texas Super Kings. By the time they hit the final against Washington Freedom on July 13, they were a different beast.
The Final Showdown at Grand Prairie
The championship match in Dallas was a heart-stopper. MI New York batted first and posted 180/7. Quinton de Kock was the anchor with a solid 77.
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But the real story was the chase. Washington Freedom looked like they had it in the bag. Rachin Ravindra was cruising with 70 runs. Then came the final over. Enter Rushil Ugarkar. The 22-year-old American kid had to defend 12 runs against Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips. Talk about pressure. He held them to just six runs.
MI New York won by 5 runs. It was their second title in three years. Not bad for a team that couldn't buy a win in June.
The Standout Performers of 2025
Looking at the major league cricket scores across the whole season, a few names just kept popping up. You can't talk about this season without mentioning Mitchell Owen. He was named Player of the Tournament for a reason. Over 300 runs at a strike rate higher than 190, plus 14 wickets. He was basically a cheat code for Washington Freedom.
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Then you have Monank Patel. The USA skipper was the leading run-scorer for the season, finishing with 478 runs. He showed that domestic talent can absolutely hold its own against international icons like Faf du Plessis, who also had a massive year with 468 runs and two centuries.
On the bowling side, Xavier Bartlett was the king of the hill. 18 wickets for the San Francisco Unicorns. He was the guy you didn't want to face in the powerplay.
How the 2025 Points Table Shook Out
The league stage was a bit of a lopsided affair until the very end. Washington Freedom dominated, finishing first with 16 points. Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns were right behind them with 14 each.
The battle for that fourth spot was where the real tension lived. MI New York and Seattle Orcas both finished with 6 points. It came down to Net Run Rate (NRR). New York's -0.518 was just enough to edge out Seattle's -1.842. That tiny decimal point difference is literally why MI New York are the current champions.
Team Standings (Top to Bottom)
- Washington Freedom (16 points, 8 wins)
- Texas Super Kings (14 points, 7 wins)
- San Francisco Unicorns (14 points, 7 wins)
- MI New York (6 points, 3 wins)
- Seattle Orcas (6 points, 3 wins)
- Los Angeles Knight Riders (4 points, 2 wins)
Looking Ahead to 2026
If you missed the 2025 madness, don't worry. The 2026 season is already locked in. It starts on June 18, 2026, and runs through July 18. They’re keeping the 34-match format with the same six teams, but the whispers of expansion are getting louder. Word is we might see eight teams by 2027, potentially including a team from Canada.
The investment is real. American Cricket Enterprises has already dumped over $150 million into this. They want 10 international-standard venues across the U.S. by 2030.
What to Watch for Next
Keep an eye on the domestic draft in February. After the success of guys like Rushil Ugarkar and Mitchell Owen, teams are going to be scouting local talent way more aggressively. The gap between the "big name" internationals and the local U.S. players is shrinking fast.
If you want to stay ahead of the game, pay attention to the venue announcements. While Dallas and Florida are staples, the league is looking to branch out even further.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
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- Track NRR early: As we saw with MI New York, a few big losses early on can be mitigated if you don't let the run rate tank. It’s often more important than the win-loss column for that final playoff spot.
- Watch the Powerplays: The 2025 scores showed that matches were won or lost in the first six overs. Teams that averaged over 60 runs in the powerplay had an 80% higher win rate.
- Follow the Draft: The domestic player pool is where the value is. Look for all-rounders like Mitchell Owen who provide flexibility in the lineup.
The era of cricket being a "niche" sport in the States is officially over. The scores prove it. The crowds prove it. And if the 2026 season is anything like the last one, we’re in for a hell of a ride.