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DALLAS: Trent Boult delivered a clutch all-round performance to guide MI New York to a thrilling two-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns in the Eliminator of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at Grand Prairie Stadium on Wednesday.
The result knocked out the Unicorns, who had started the tournament with six straight wins but stumbled when it mattered most, bowing out with a disappointing finish.
Skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that paid off instantly as MI New York’s bowlers ripped through the Unicorns’ top order, leaving them reeling at 16-5 in 4.2 overs.
Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige shared two wickets apiece in the powerplay, while Hassan Khan was run out for a golden duck.
Cooper Connolly tried to halt the collapse with a 19-ball 23 but fell to Tristan Luus just as he began settling in.
The Unicorns found some breathing space through Xavier Bartlett, who counterattacked with a brisk 44 off 24 balls, smashing four sixes and two boundaries to lift the total.
His resistance ended in the 18th over when Kieron Pollard struck at a crucial moment. Liam Plunkett (7) fell to Rushil Ugarkar soon after, as the Unicorns were bowled out for 131 in 19.1 overs.
Ugarkar was the pick of the bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3 for 19, while Boult and Kenjige finished with two wickets each.
In reply, MI New York got off to a solid start with Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock putting up 43 for the opening stand.
De Kock looked in good touch during his 33 off 24, hitting five boundaries, including a six, before Matthew Short dismissed him. In the same over, Short also removed Pooran for just 1, leaving MI at 45 for 2 at the end of the seventh over.
Despite the twin blows, Michael Bracewell and Monank Patel built a steady third-wicket stand of 36.
But Short returned to break the partnership once again, removing Patel for a composed 33 off 32, which included two sixes.
That wicket triggered a collapse as MI New York lost five wickets for just 27 runs, slumping from 81-3 to 108-8.
Needing 24 off the last three overs, Boult stepped up with the bat and turned finisher, smashing an unbeaten 22, including two crucial sixes off Hassan Khan, to take MI New York over the line in the final over.
Despite a strong bowling effort that saw him claim four wickets, Hassan Khan’s two sixes to Boult in the death overs proved costly.
Matthew Short was equally effective, finishing with 3 for 22, but couldn’t prevent the Unicorns’ exit.
MI New York will now face Texas Super Kings in Qualifier 2 on July 11. The winner will meet defending champions Washington Freedom in the MLC 2025 final.
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