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In the ever-evolving world of T20 cricket, few moments capture the imagination like a delivery that seems to break the very laws of the game. On June 29, 2025, during a high-stakes Major League Cricket (MLC) clash between the Seattle Orcas and Los Angeles Knight Riders, Jason Holder produced a delivery that left players, fans, and even physics itself scratching their heads. Holder’s ball struck the off stump of Shayan Jahangir, but in a twist that will be replayed for years, the bail refused to fall—a surreal moment that changed the complexion of the match and highlighted the unpredictable drama of cricket.
Shayan Jahangir’s bails hold strong on top of stumps leaving Jason Holder stunned in MLC 2025
The incident unfolded in the 11th over of the Orcas’ chase of a daunting 204-run target. With the pressure already mounting after Josh Brown’s early dismissal, Holder steamed in and delivered a full ball to Jahangir, who attempted a risky reverse scoop. The ball brushed the off stump, causing one of the bails to lift slightly before settling back into its groove without lighting up or falling—a rare occurrence, especially with modern zing bails designed to illuminate at the slightest disturbance.
Holder, convinced he had his man, appealed vociferously for a caught behind, then reviewed the not-out decision. UltraEdge technology revealed a spike, but it was the bat scraping the pitch, not the ball. Replays confirmed the ball had indeed clipped the stumps, but the stubborn bail refused to budge. The missed opportunity proved costly: Jahangir, granted a lifeline, went on to score a crucial 43 off 31 balls, building a 119-run partnership with Aaron Jones (73 off 38) that anchored the Orcas’ chase.
This bizarre episode not only left the Knight Riders ruing their luck but also became the talking point of the match. Even seasoned cricket watchers were left in disbelief, as such moments—where the bail neither dislodges nor lights up—are exceedingly rare in the modern game.
Here’s the video:
Jason Holder hits the stumps, but the bail doesn’t fall! 😱 Talk about a lucky escape for Shayan Jahangir 🍀 pic.twitter.com/bQSRtI927Z
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 29, 2025
Also WATCH: Shimron Hetmyer’s last-ball six powers Seattle Orcas to record run chase against MI New York
MLC 2025: Points table pressure and playoff race
The drama of Holder’s delivery is set against a fiercely competitive MLC 2025 season. As of June 30, the points table reveals a tight race for playoff spots, with every match carrying significant weight:
| Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR | Recent Form |
| San Francisco Unicorns (Q) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 12 | +2.016 | WWWWL |
| Washington Freedom (Q) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 12 | +0.603 | WWWWW |
| Texas Super Kings (Q) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 10 | +1.448 | WLLWW |
| Seattle Orcas | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | -1.554 | LLWWL |
| MI New York | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | -0.714 | WLLLL |
| LA Knight Riders | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | -1.756 | LWLLL |
The top 3 teams San Francisco Unicorns, Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings have already qualified for the playoffs, whereas Unicorns and Washington are tied at the top with 6 wins each from 7 matches, but San Francisco leads on net run rate. TSK are close behind in third place. Seattle Orcas are fourth with just 2 wins, while MI New York and Los Angeles Knight Riders are at the bottom, each with only 1 win from 7 games. The playoff race is heating up, with the top three teams pulling ahead and the rest struggling to keep up.
The Seattle Orcas, despite a shaky start, have surged to fourth place after back-to-back wins, including the dramatic victory over LA Knight Riders. The Knight Riders, on the other hand, find themselves anchored at the bottom.
