NEW DELHI: Nicholas Pooran blazed an unbeaten 62 from 37 balls to lead defending champions MI New York to a triumphant start in Major League Cricket 2024, defeating Seattle Orcas by six wickets at Morrisville's Church Street Park.
Opting to field after winning the toss, Kieron Pollard's team restricted Seattle Orcas to 108 all out in 19.1 overs.
Fiery pacer Trent Boult and star spinner Rashid Khan each captured three wickets, with Pollard contributing two dismissals.
MI New York encountered early setbacks, losing two wickets for just 16 runs in their chase of 108.
However, Pooran took charge, smashing two sixes and seven boundaries in a rapid 37-ball innings that guided his team to victory in just 14.2 overs.
For his dazzling batting display, Pooran was adjudged Man of the Match.
"It's nice to start with a win, the key is to get off to a good start. We had a wonderful powerplay, Rashid then came and did his job, it was important that everyone came up and contributed to the win," Pooran said after the match.
"I wanted to recognise the state of the game, understand the match-ups and the condition of the wicket. I just played according to the merit of the ball," he said.
MI New York skipper Pollard hailed Pooran and Rashid after his team won the opening match of the tournament.
"It was a nice toss to win, bowling in this heat. The bowlers came up well and managed to stay with their plans. We've made a few additions to the team, everyone understands their responsibility as well," Pollard said.
"To be able to call up one of the senior bowlers around in the circuit (on Rashid Khan), credit to the management for picking him up. We all know how dangerous he can be (on Nic Pooran), on his day he can win a match by himself and he's someone capable of finding the boundaries. Nice to have started with a win and looking forward to the next match which is coming up shortly," he added.
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