NEW DELHI: Captain Kieron Pollard led his team MI New York into the playoffs of Major League Cricket 2024 with a four-wicket victory over Los Angeles Knight Riders at Dallas on Sunday.
The defending champions chased down the 131-run target with three overs to spare with Pollard smashing an unbeaten 33 that came off just 12 balls and was studded with 3 sixes and 2 fours.
Pollard's three sixes came off three consecutive deliveries by Spencer Johnson in the 15th over.
The first six came off the third ball of the over and was hit straight back over the bowler's head, the second was a heave over square leg that went a long way into the stands.
Johnson then switched to round the wicket and tried bowling a yorker, failed and the ball was whipped disdainfully over mid-wicket again into the stands where it hit the right shoulder of a female fan holding a MI New York flag.
After the match, Pollard, alongwith Nicholas Pooran went out to look for the fan, comforted her, even apologized for the shot, gave her an autograph, let the fan's husband click a selfie and even asked him to take care of her saying, "Do what a man needs to do", before shaking hands.
MI New York completed the playoffs line-up, while Los Angeles Knight Riders were eliminated on net run-rate.
MI New York will now face the Texas Super Kings in the Eliminator on Wednesday.
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