AI Simulation, MINY vs LAKR | Nicholas Pooran guides MINY to second straight win against LAKR

Pitch and Weather

The surface was quite flat and dry in the first half of the game, helping the batters to score, but it gradually changed to support the spinners in the second innings under the lights, owing to the dew factor. The wicket also became quite tough for the batters while chasing the target in the second innings.

The weather was quite cloudy around the start of the game, but later on, it went on to turn into sunny and humid, without any interruptions caused by rain throughout the entire course of the game.

Toss

MI New York won the toss and decided to bat first on a considerably batting-friendly surface in the first half of the game.  

Lineups

MINY XI: Quinton de Kock (WK), Monank Patel, Nicholas Pooran (C), Kieron Pollard, Tajinder Singh, Michael Bracewell, George Linde, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult, Rushil Ugarkar, Ehsan Adil.

LAKR XI: Unmukt Chand (WK), Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Saif Badar, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder (C), Matthew Tromp, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Sunil Narine. 

Match Report

It was an all-important game for both the struggling teams in the tournament, MINY and LAKR; before this game, MINY were coming off an unbeaten record against LAKR in the head-to-head clashes in the history of Major League Cricket.

MI New York batted first after winning the toss, and the veteran opener Quinton de Kock played a blistering knock in the start, scoring 44 runs off just 27 balls, with five fours and two sixes. Later in the innings, skipper Nicholas Pooran came up with all guns blazing and smashed a fiery knock of 62 runs off just 36 balls, with four fours and five sixes. On the back of these knocks, MINY managed to post 188/6 on the scoreboard in the allotted 20 overs. Sunil Narine and Ali Khan scalped 2 wickets each for LAKR in the first innings, alongside a wicket picked by skipper Jason Holder.

While chasing the target, star all-rounder Andre Russell played a crucial knock of 41 runs off just 23 balls for LAKR, alongside Andre Fletcher’s 35 runs off 22 balls. But these knocks went in vain as LAKR were eventually restricted to the score of 171/9 in the entire 20 overs, falling 18 runs short and losing the game by 17 runs. Star MINY pacer Trent Boult shone once again with the ball and scalped 3 wickets at just 28 runs in his 4 overs. Besides him, George Linde also claimed 2 wickets at 22 runs in 4 overs, alongside a wicket bagged by Michael Bracewell. Eventually, MINY bowlers managed to defend the target and help their side stay unbeaten against LAKR MLC.

Player of the Match

MI New York skipper Nicholas Pooran won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his outstanding and match-winning knock of 62 runs off just 36 balls, with four fours and five sixes. His knock helped MINY post a tough total in the first innings.

Scorecard