DALLAS: Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 33-run knock after the prized scalp of Andre Russell powered MI New York to a four-wicket victory over LA Knight Riders and qualify for the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 Playoffs.
Put into bat first, the Knight Riders’ batting unit unfolded on a modest total of 130 in 19.1 overs despite Russell’s courageous knock.
The Knight Riders had a shaky start to their innings as they lost Sunil Narine in the second over with just 17 runs on the board.
Jason Roy put up a notable fight despite losing another partner — Unmukt Chand (9). But his resistance lasted in the seventh over as Rashid Khan outfoxed him with a googly.
Roy struck three fours and a six on his way to a 23-ball 27.
The Knight Riders lost two more wickets in quick succession and consequently slipped to 78/5 in 12.3 overs.
Coming out to bat at No.7, Andre Russell launched a counterattack on MI New York bowlers with belligerent hitting but lamented support as he kept losing partners on the other hand.
His fireworks lasted on the first delivery of the final over when he fell victim to his compatriot Kieron Pollard.
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Russell remained the top-scorer for the Knight Riders with a 21-ball 35 which featured six fours and a six.
Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for MI New York, returning brilliant figures of 3/22, followed by Nosthush Kenjige and Trent Boult, who bagged two each.
Despite chasing a modest total, MI New York had to make hard yards as they lost six wickets in the process.
However, Pollard’s quickfire knock powered the defending champions to victory with 18 balls to spare.
Pollard scored an unbeaten 33 off 12 deliveries, laced up with two fours and three sixes. He was involved in a match-defining 35-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Nicholas Pooran, who remained the top-scorer with an anchoring 35 off 28.
Besides the West Indian duo, South Africa’s batting prodigy Dewald Brewis made a notable contribution with a 19-ball 27 up the order.
For LA Knight Riders, Sunil Narine claimed two wickets while Ali Khan, Andre Russell, Spencer Johnson and Corné Dry made one scalp each.
Upon their qualification in the MLC 2024 playoffs, MI New York will take on Texas Super Kings in the Eliminator.