The wicketkeeper-batsman(Nicholas Pooran) scored 137 off 55 balls as New York MI beat Seattle Orcas by seven wickets at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Seattle Orcas could only score 183/9 and MI New York reached their goal in 16 overs.
MI New York did not get off to a good start as Imad Wasim dismissed Steven Taylor in the third ball of the opening over. Nicholas Pooran showed what he was capable of on the night by smashing Wasim for two sixes in a row in the same over. The West Indies player showed tremendous form as Dwayne Pretorius hit three sixes and two fours in the third over.
Opener Shayan Jahangir fell to Wayne Parnell in the fifth over, but Nicholas Pooran scored maximum runs at the other end. He hit three sixes off Andrew Tye to take MI New York to 80/2 in just 6 overs. Pooran continued to find the middle of his bat and hit a total of 10 fours and 13 sixes in his innings. The skipper remained unbeaten on 137 off 55 balls and single-handedly led MI New York to victory with 4 overs to spare.
In the previous day’s match, MI New York won the toss and asked Seattle Orcas to bat. Quinton de Kock appeared in full swing and hit Jesse Singh for consecutive boundaries in the second over. Although Rashid Khan sent de Kock’s opening partner Nauman
Anwar scored 9 runs in 13 balls in the fifth over. After that, Shehan provided excellent support to Jayasurya de Kock and hit David Wise for a boundary and a six in the seventh over. But in the tenth over he dismissed Steven Taylor for 16 runs off 15 balls.
After Heinrich Klaasen’s early dismissal, de Kock and Shubham Ranjane put on a brilliant partnership of 51 off 24 balls to take Orcas to 142/4 in 16.1 overs. After that, Orcas kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Dwayne Pretorius’ 7-ball 21 helped his side post a strong total on the board.
Nicholas Pooran and Wayne Parnell Comments Post Match
Speaking about his team’s win, the tournament’s leading run scorer and MLC Season 1 MVP Nicholas Pooran said, “We talked about getting a chance to do something special today. I appreciate everything everyone did. So proud and everyone contributed something. I was advised by the team in the dressing room to bat like Nicky P and not worry about batting like a captain. It’s either one or the other. I have supported my skills. Today there was a platform and there was an opportunity.
Seattle Orcas skipper Wayne Parnell said, “You have to appreciate someone who plays like that. Credit to Nicky and his team. He (Nicholas Pooran) didn’t seem to lose the ball today.” I will do that. We put in a good amount but we have to give them credit today. The first MLC season was really good. Credit to all who organized it. Many thanks to the owners and management of Cricket for choosing this team and giving us the freedom to play this brand credit.”
Summary Score:
MI New York 184/3 (Nicholas Pooran 137*, Devald Brewis 20, Imad Wasim 1/14) beat Seattle Orcas 183/9 (Quinton de Kock 87, Shubham Ranjane 29, Rashid Khan 3/9) by 7 wickets. – Full Score Card
Also Read: Rohit Sharma’s Record Breaking Score – Fastest 50
