Former West Indies white-ball captain, Nicholas Pooran struck an unbeaten half-century to put MI New York in the sight of the Major League Cricket playoffs, with an eight-wicket win over Akeal Hosein’s Washington Freedom at Church Street Park recently.
The left-hander smacked a 33-ball 62 not out as MI New York easily overhauled a target of 162.
Sent in to bat, Freedom rallied to 160 for 6 from their allocation of 20 overs, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 47 from 35 deliveries and captain Moises Henriques hitting 32 from 30 balls.
The innings was wandering at 57 for 3 in the ninth over before Phillips and Henriques repaired the damage in a 77-run, fourth wicket stand.
Kieron Pollard then accounted for both in the penultimate over to finish with two for 33 from his four overs of slow medium.
In reply, Monank Patel spearheaded the chase with 44 off 29 deliveries with five fours and a six, inspiring an open stand of 67 off 42 deliveries with Shayan Jahangir.
Once the stand was broken, Pooran entering the game at number three, put on 41 for the second wicket with opener Jahangir who made 29, and a further 53 in an unbroken third wicket partnership with captain and former West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard who made 21 not out in 10 deliveries.
Pooran took charge of the innings, lashing 4 fours and half-dozen sixes in a beautiful knock, to take the game away from Freedom.
Pollard also punched a four and a brace of sixes, taking MI New York to their second win in four outings.
