Broward County, July 7 -- A composed chase from Andries Gous and a sharp spell from Glenn Maxwell powered Washington Freedom to a six-wicket win over MI New York, sealing a top-two finish and a berth in Qualifier 1 of the 2025 Cognizant Major League Cricket season.

Despite the defeat, MI New York advanced to the playoffs as well, their vastly superior Net Run Rate keeping them ahead of the Seattle Orcas, even if the final confirmation came only after the match.

With playoff qualification almost assured due to their NRR advantage, MI New York made a bold move at the toss: resting several regulars and giving opportunities to seven new faces in their playing XI. It was a calculated decision reflecting their confidence in sealing the fourth...