MI New York's key players delivered crucial performances in a must-win game, propelling the defending champions to the MLC 2024 playoffs. Rashid Khan's impressive 3 for 22 helped limit LAKR to a modest 130, which Nicholas Pooran (35 off 28) and Kieron Pollard (33 off 12) successfully chased down with 18 balls remaining.
After opting to bowl on a sluggish pitch, MI New York started strong. Trent Boult dismissed Sunil Narine in his first over, but Jason Roy countered with a six off Boult and boundaries off Nosthush Kenjige. However, MI New York also claimed Unmukt Chand's wicket in the PowerPlay, ending at 45 for 2. Chand’s dismissal was crucial as spin was anticipated to dominate the middle overs.
Rashid made an immediate impact, removing Roy with his fourth delivery. Kenjige then had David Miller caught at long-on, leaving LAKR at 62 for 4 midway through their innings. Together, Rashid and Kenjige spun a web around LAKR, taking 5 for 44 in eight overs. Kenjige dismissed Saif Badar, while Rashid bowled Nitish Kumar and trapped Spencer Johnson LBW.
At 101 for 9, LAKR were floundering but managed a somewhat competitive total thanks to Andre Russell's 35 off 21 balls. Russell struck consecutive boundaries off Rashid and Romario Shepherd, then took Boult for two fours and a six, boosting LAKR to 130 before Pollard ended his innings with a clever short ball.
MI New York’s chase began brightly with Dewald Brevis scoring 27 off 19 balls. Despite losing both Brevis and Ruben Clinton by the end of a 36-run PowerPlay, and Monank Patel soon after, MI New York reached 55 for 3 at the halfway mark, needing 76 from the final 50 balls.
Pooran, having scored only 15 off his first 16 balls, ignited the innings by hitting Narine out of the stadium and then scoring a six and a four off Russell, pushing MI New York ahead of the required rate. Pollard sealed the win with a blistering assault on Spencer Johnson, hitting three consecutive sixes. Pollard’s unbeaten 33 off 12 balls ensured MI New York's playoff qualification and kept their title defence alive.
Brief Scores: LA Knight Riders 130 in 19.1 overs (Andre Russell 35; Rashid Khan 3-22, Nosthush Kenjige 2-22) lost to MI New York 134/6 in 17 overs (Nicholas Pooran 35, Kieron Pollard 33; Sunil Narine 2-24) by four wickets.