MORRISVILLE, North Carolina, CMC – Former West Indies white-ball captain, Nicholas Pooran, struck a blistering unbeaten half-century to put MI New York in sight of the Major League Cricket playoffs, with an eight-wicket win over Akeal Hosein’s Washington Freedom.
The left-hander, unavailable for the West Indies one-day series against India starting Thursday in Barbados, punched a 33-ball 62 not out as MI New York easily overhauled a target of 162 at Church Street Park on Sunday.
Entering at number three, Pooran put on 41 for the second wicket with opener Shayan Jahangir (29) and a further 53 in an unbroken third wicket partnership with captain and former West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard who belted a 10-ball 21 not out.
Sent in, Freedom rallied to 160 for six from their 20 overs, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 47 from 35 deliveries and captain Moises Henriques hitting 32 from 30 balls. The innings was wandering at 57 for three in the ninth over before Phillips and Henriques repaired the damage in a 77-run, fourth wicket stand.
Pollard eventually accounted for both in the penultimate over to finish with two for 33 from his four overs of slow medium.
In reply, Monank Patel spearheaded the chase with 44 off 29 deliveries with five fours and a six, inspiring an opening stand of 67 off 42 deliveries with Jahangir. Once the stand was broken, Pooran took charge of the innings, lashing four fours and half-dozen sixes in a stunning knock, to take the game away from Freedom.
Pollard also sparkled with a four and a brace of sixes, taking MI New York to their second win in four outings.
In the other game at the venue, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell chipped in with 37 from 29 balls as LA Knight Riders chased down 171 to beat Seattle Orcas by two wickets, and earn their first win in five attempts for the season.