MLC 2023: MI New York win the inaugural edition

Cricket fans witnessed some exhilarating action during the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) as players from the six participating teams dished out some memorable performances. Nicholas Pooran’s scintillating century in the summit clash will be remembered by cricket enthusiasts for a long time.

MI New York (MINY) won the toss in the final against Seattle Orcas (SEO) and sent them in to bat on a belter of a track at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Quinton de Kock showed his class as he scored 87 off just 52 balls with nine fours and four sixes. The in-form Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed cheaply for four by Rashid Khan.

De Kock found support from Shubham Ranjane, who played an enterprising 29-run knock off just 16 balls to lay the platform for his team. Dwaine Pretorius continued the momentum as he scored 21 in seven balls to help the team put up a strong total of 183/9 on the board. Rashid Khan did not have a great tournament coming into the finals. But, he stepped up when it mattered the most and finished with staggering figures of 3/9 in four overs while Trent Boult also picked up three wickets.

Nicholas Pooran’s six-hitting masterclass

New York did not get to an ideal start as they lost the wicket of Taylor in first over. Stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran came out to bat at No. 3 and played with flamboyance to rattle Wayne Parnell and Co. In the first six overs as New York scored 80 runs with Pooran scoring 69 of them.

The southpaw went on to notch up his hundred in just 40 balls. He made a mockery out of a challenging target. His blitzkrieg helped the team win the final by seven wickets with four overs to spare. The West Indies batter remained not out on 137 off just 55 balls. Smashing 10 fours and 13 sixes, Pooran was fittingly adjudged Player of the Match.