Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard each didn’t carry out as MI New York’s depressing protection of their Main League Cricket title ended with a seven-wicket defeat to Texas Tremendous Kings within the eliminator match at Grand Prairie Stadium.
Despatched in to bat, MI New York managed to rally a aggressive 163 for eight from their allotted 20 overs after discovering themselves struggling on 18 for 2 within the fourth over.
Rashid Khan was the highest scorer with 55 from 30 balls. Each Pooran and Pollard, on 8 and 6 respectively didn’t make an impression.
In reply, South African Faf du Plessis belted 72 off 47 balls to guide the run chase, with fellow opener Devon Conway of New Zealand supporting with 51 off 43 balls and Australia Aaron Hardie ending with an unbeaten 40 off 22 deliveries.
MI New York endured a poor begin once they misplaced Dewald Brevis to the fourth ball of the sport and not using a run on the board after which misplaced celebrity Pooran, holing out to mid-on within the fourth over from medium pacer Marcus Stoinis (2-18).
Monank Patel, who struck 48 from 41 balls, had two key partnerships posting 49 for the third with opener Shayan Jahangir on 25 and an extra 35 for the fourth wicket with Rashid Khan.
After Monank departed, Rashid Khan took management and posted a 53-run, fifth-wicket partnership with West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd who was on seven not out, to encourage momentum coming in on the finish of the innings.
Tremendous Kings by no means faltered of their response. Captain du Plessis stroked six fours and three sixes in a 101-run first-wicket partnership with Conway who blasted three fours and a six.
Hardie then entered and smacked three fours and two sixes in a 66-run, unbroken second-wicket partnership with Conway, as Tremendous Kings reached their goal with 9 balls to spare.
