NEW DELHI: Defending champions MI New York secured their place in the Major League Cricket 2024 playoffs with a comfortable 4-wicket victory over the LA Knight Riders, eliminating the Sunil Narine-led team from the tournament.
Put in to bat by MI New York, the Los Angeles Knight Riders were bowled out for 130 runs, thanks to brilliant bowling from Rashid Khan, who claimed 3 for 22 in four overs. Nosthush Kenjige and Trent Boult also contributed with two wickets each.
Rashid was adjudged Man of the Match.
In reply, MI New York chased down the target in 17 overs to secure the final playoff berth. Nicholas Pooran scored 38 off 28 balls, while skipper Kieron Pollard smashed an unbeaten 33 off just 12 balls, including three sixes and two fours, striking at a rate of 275, to get the side over the line.
“Very relieved, congrats to the entire team. The way we fought, everyone chipped in usefully. If we look at the history of how we’ve batted, 130 was a tough ask. But we got another opportunity, the attitude shown by everyone was fantastic. I’ve had some experience, Nosthush came to me after one game and said that things will turn out good, my family was always backing me, coming from a young player, it meant a lot,” MI New York skipper Pollard said after the match.
“I always pride myself on performing for the franchise and I’m glad it came off today. It was a plan that worked out in the end (on bowling the 20th over), I could’ve gone for 20 and they could have got past 150. I could have gone for the young guy (Rushil Ugarkar), but it was one of the days when we got what we wanted. I heard that one of the supporters in the crowd got hit, I hope she’s OK and I hope we can do something for her on our part to make her happy,” he added.
With this victory, MI New York have completed the playoffs lineup and will now face the Texas Super Kings in what promises to be a thrilling Eliminator clash.
The match will be held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.
Put in to bat by MI New York, the Los Angeles Knight Riders were bowled out for 130 runs, thanks to brilliant bowling from Rashid Khan, who claimed 3 for 22 in four overs. Nosthush Kenjige and Trent Boult also contributed with two wickets each.
Rashid was adjudged Man of the Match.
In reply, MI New York chased down the target in 17 overs to secure the final playoff berth. Nicholas Pooran scored 38 off 28 balls, while skipper Kieron Pollard smashed an unbeaten 33 off just 12 balls, including three sixes and two fours, striking at a rate of 275, to get the side over the line.
“Very relieved, congrats to the entire team. The way we fought, everyone chipped in usefully. If we look at the history of how we’ve batted, 130 was a tough ask. But we got another opportunity, the attitude shown by everyone was fantastic. I’ve had some experience, Nosthush came to me after one game and said that things will turn out good, my family was always backing me, coming from a young player, it meant a lot,” MI New York skipper Pollard said after the match.
“I always pride myself on performing for the franchise and I’m glad it came off today. It was a plan that worked out in the end (on bowling the 20th over), I could’ve gone for 20 and they could have got past 150. I could have gone for the young guy (Rushil Ugarkar), but it was one of the days when we got what we wanted. I heard that one of the supporters in the crowd got hit, I hope she’s OK and I hope we can do something for her on our part to make her happy,” he added.
With this victory, MI New York have completed the playoffs lineup and will now face the Texas Super Kings in what promises to be a thrilling Eliminator clash.
The match will be held at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday.
