Nicholas Pooran’s remarkable century propelled MI New York to a resounding victory, clinching the inaugural Major League Cricket title on Sunday. With a stunning display of batting prowess, the wicketkeeper-batter blazed his way to 137 runs off just 55 balls, guiding MI New York to a seven-wicket triumph over Seattle Orcas at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. Restricting Seattle Orcas to 183/9, MI New York chased down the target in a mere 16 overs.
Despite a shaky start with the dismissal of Steven Taylor in the opening over by Imad Wasim, Pooran quickly signaled his intent for the night by smashing consecutive sixes off Wasim’s bowling. He maintained his scintillating form, taking on Dwaine Pretorius for three sixes and two boundaries in the third over.
Although Shayan Jahangir fell to Wayne Parnell in the fifth over, Pooran continued to dominate at the crease, hitting three more sixes off Andrew Tye’s bowling, propelling MI New York to 80/2 in just 6 overs. Throughout his innings, Pooran found the middle of his bat consistently, recording an astonishing tally of 10 fours and 13 sixes. He remained unbeaten, guiding his team to victory with 137 runs off 55 balls, leaving MI New York with four overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, MI New York chose to field, and Rashid Khan played a pivotal role by dismissing Quinton de Kock’s opening partner, Nauman Anwar. De Kock and Shubham Ranjane then built a strong partnership of 51 runs from 24 balls, taking Seattle Orcas to 142/4 in 16.1 overs. The Orcas lost wickets at regular intervals but managed to post a formidable total on the board, thanks in part to Dwaine Pretorius’ cameo of 21 runs from 7 balls.
Speaking about the team’s victory, Nicholas Pooran, who was not only the leading run-scorer in the tournament but also the MLC Season 1 MVP, expressed his pride in the collective effort of the team. He credited his teammates’ support and emphasized the importance of playing his natural game.
In response to the defeat, Seattle Orcas’ Captain Wayne Parnell acknowledged Pooran’s exceptional performance and credited him and his team for their outstanding display. He also commended the organizers, owners, and management for a successful first MLC season, which showcased an exciting brand of cricket.
Final Scores: MI New York: 184/3 (Nicholas Pooran 137*, Dewald Brevis 20, Imad Wasim 1/14) Seattle Orcas: 183/9 (Quinton de Kock 87, Shubham Ranjane 29, Rashid Khan 3/9)
Tournament Awards:
- SLING TV Most Valuable Player of the Tournament: Nicholas Pooran
- Royal Rice Leading Run Scorer: Nicholas Pooran
- NTT Leading Wicket Taker: Trent Boult
- Bart King Domestic Player of the Tournament: Cameron Gannon
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