By Tim Douglas 
Shimron Hetmyer etched his name in Major League Cricket folklore with a sensational unbeaten 97, launching Seattle Orcas to an unforgettable three-wicket victory over MI New York in a record-breaking run chase at Grand Prairie.
Set a towering target of 238, the Orcas pulled off MLC’s highest successful T20 chase, snatching victory off the very last ball. Hetmyer, calm yet brutal, finished the match in style with a towering six off Kieron Pollard—sealing the Orcas’ first win of the 2025 season in cinematic fashion.
Earlier, Nicholas Pooran stormed back to form with a majestic 108 off 60 balls, combining flair with composure to anchor MI New York’s mammoth total. Partnered by Tajinder Singh, who stunned everyone with a scintillating 95 off 35 deliveries, the duo stitched together a 158-run partnership, the highest in MI New York’s history. Their display of fearless power-hitting helped post 237/4, leaving Seattle with an uphill task.
But the Orcas responded with aggression from the outset. Kyle Mayers’ 37 off 20 and Sikandar Raza’s rapid 30 off just 9 balls propelled them to 86/1 in the powerplay—the season’s best. Even after quick wickets unsettled their momentum, Heinrich Klaasen and then Hetmyer picked up the charge.
Hetmyer’s knock was a masterclass in calculated aggression. Despite losing partners at the other end, the West Indian left-hander controlled the tempo with ruthless hitting—clubbing 9 sixes and 5 boundaries—as the required rate crept up in the closing overs. His battle-hardened temperament came to the fore when it mattered most, sealing the win with a final-ball maximum and leaving the Grand Prairie crowd stunned.
MI New York, despite their monumental total, will rue their failure to contain Hetmyer and close out the game. Their bowling unit, especially in the death overs, leaked 19 runs in the last over—a costly lapse after a record-setting batting performance.
With this momentum-shifting win, the Seattle Orcas finally break their winless streak, setting the tone for their upcoming clash against LA Knight Riders. For MI New York, there are positives aplenty, notably Pooran and Tajinder’s form, as they regroup for a tough encounter against Texas Super Kings.
This clash not only delivered fireworks—it rewrote the MLC record books.
Match Summary:
MINY: 237/4 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 108, Tajinder Singh 95, Monank Patel 20, Kyle Mayers 34/2, Gerald Coetzee 46/2)
SO: 238/7 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 97*, Kyle Mayers 37, Sikandar Raza 30, Heinrich Klaasen 26, Trent Boult 31/3, Rushil Ugarkar 29/1)
Result: Seattle Orcas beat MI New York by 3 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
Anas Ahmed