Hetmyer's Last-Gasp Six Stuns Pollard, Seals Record-Breaking Orcas Victory in MLC Thriller

In a stunning display of power hitting, Shimron Hetmyer propelled the Seattle Orcas to a remarkable three-wicket victory over MI New York in a thrilling encounter in the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season. Hetmyer's heroics secured the Orcas' first win of the season, completing a record-breaking run chase with a last-ball six off the bowling of Kieron Pollard.

Image credit: MLC

The Orcas successfully chased down a mammoth target of 238, marking the highest successful run chase in MLC history. Hetmyer remained calm under pressure, dispatching Pollard's final delivery over the boundary to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Earlier in the match, MI New York had set a formidable target, posting 237/4. Captain Nicholas Pooran led the charge with a blistering, unbeaten 108 off just 60 balls, including 7 fours and 8 sixes. He was well-supported by Tajinder Dhillon, who smashed a rapid 95 off 35 deliveries.

Despite the onslaught, the Orcas managed to regain some control through the efforts of Gerald Coetzee and Kyle Mayers, who each claimed two wickets to slow down the scoring.

Seattle's chase got off to a shaky start, losing Josh Brown and Shayan Jahangir early in the powerplay. However, Kyle Mayers (37 off 20) and captain Sikandar Raza (30 off 9) launched a swift counterattack, bringing the chase back on track. Heinrich Klaasen also contributed with a quickfire 26 off 13 balls before falling to Rushil Ugarkar.

This set the stage for Hetmyer's remarkable innings. As the required run rate increased and wickets continued to fall, Hetmyer shifted gears, unleashing a barrage of boundaries. He finished with an unbeaten 97 off just 40 deliveries, including 5 fours and 9 towering sixes, achieving an extraordinary strike rate of 242.50.

With five runs needed off the final ball, Hetmyer delivered. Facing MI New York captain Kieron Pollard, he maneuvered inside the line of the delivery and flicked it over fine leg for a six that will likely be remembered as the most valuable of his T20 career. The shot sparked jubilant celebrations among the Seattle Orcas team.

"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," said Hetmyer, who was named Player of the Match.

"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," he added.