MI New York, the American franchise of Mumbai Indians, defeated Seattle Orcas by 7 wickets in a thrilling Major League Cricket 2025 (MLC 2025) match. Kieron Pollard was the hero of this victory, smashing runs at a strike rate of 260 off just 10 balls to propel his team to victory.
Sports News: MI New York made a b start to Major League Cricket 2025, defeating Seattle Orcas by 7 wickets. Seattle Orcas, batting first, posted a challenging 200 runs. However, MI New York's batsmen displayed a brilliant performance, making the target look achievable. Team's star all-rounder, Kieron Pollard, played a powerful innings, hitting a six in the final over to secure the win.
Orcas Post 200 Batting First
Seattle Orcas captain, Heinrich Klaasen, won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that initially seemed justified. Shayan Jahangir played a solid innings of 43 runs, while Kyle Meyers unleashed a whirlwind 88 runs off 46 balls, smashing 10 impressive sixes and 3 fours. Klaasen also contributed 27 runs, helping the team reach a respectable score of 200.
However, despite the substantial total, Orcas' bowling proved extremely weak, allowing MI New York an easy path to victory.
MI New York's Chase Machine: Monank Patel and Bracewell
Chasing a substantial 201 runs, MI New York started cautiously, but Monank Patel soon accelerated. He played a powerful innings of 93 runs off 50 balls, studded with several boundaries and sixes. Monank's batting technique and timing were exceptional, providing the team with a b platform.
Following him, New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell also displayed a brilliant performance, scoring 50 runs off 35 balls. He partnered with Monank, strengthening the partnership and maintaining a healthy run rate.
Pollard Finishes with a 260 Strike Rate
With every bowling strategy seemingly failing, Kieron Pollard showcased his vintage form in the final overs. Pollard smashed 26 runs off just 10 balls. This short but explosive innings included four fours and a six. He finished the match in the 19th over with two fours and a six. His blistering innings proved that despite age, Pollard's explosive batting remains unchanged.
Seattle Orcas' defeat was largely attributed to their disappointing bowling performance. Only Sikandar Raza took two wickets. Kyle Meyers took one wicket, but proved expensive. The rest of the team's bowlers completely failed to put any pressure on the batsmen.
Monank Patel's match-winning 93 runs were crucial to this victory, earning him the 'Player of the Match' award. His calm and composed innings kept the team on track from the start, and Pollard's explosive finish sealed the win.
