Hetmyer's Last-Gasp Six Steals Record-Breaking MLC Win for Seattle Orcas Over MI New York

Shimron Hetmyer delivered a stunning performance, smashing a last-ball six to secure a thrilling three-wicket victory for the Seattle Orcas over MI New York in a record-breaking chase in the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season.

Shimron Hetmyer celebrates his match-winning six.

The Orcas successfully chased down a massive target of 238, marking the highest successful run chase in MLC history. Hetmyer's composure under pressure and his incredible hitting prowess led his team to victory.

MI New York had earlier posted an imposing 237/4, thanks to a brilliant, unbeaten century from captain Nicholas Pooran. Pooran smashed 108 off just 60 balls, including 7 fours and 8 sixes. He was well-supported by Tajinder Dhillon, who blazed his way to 95 off a mere 35 deliveries.

Despite the onslaught, the Orcas bowlers, particularly Gerald Coetzee and Kyle Mayers, managed to pick up two wickets each, slowing down the scoring rate to some extent.

Seattle's chase began poorly, with Josh Brown and Shayan Jahangir falling early in the powerplay. However, Kyle Mayers (37 off 20) and captain Sikandar Raza (30 off 9) launched a swift counterattack, briefly bringing the chase back on track. Heinrich Klaasen then contributed a quickfire 26 off 13 balls before being dismissed by debutant Rushil Ugarkar.

This set the stage for Hetmyer's heroics.

With the required run rate escalating and wickets falling, Hetmyer shifted gears and took charge. He remained unbeaten on 97 off just 40 balls, hitting 5 fours and 9 towering sixes, achieving a remarkable strike rate of 242.50.

The game reached a dramatic climax on the final ball, with five runs needed for victory. Hetmyer faced MI New York captain Kieron Pollard, got into position, and flicked the ball over fine leg for a match-winning six, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Seattle camp.

Hetmyer, named Player of the Match, said, "This one is one of the best, because our backs were against the wall and I'm still grimacing over the last game where we couldn't cross the line. Today is one of those days, where I went with a clear mind and wanted to take the game as deep as possible. That (injury) actually gave me a little bit of help, because I didn't want to run much."