Major League Cricket’s First Champs: MI New York

India-West Staff Reporter

DALLAS, TX – Nicholas Pooran put up a superlative effort with the bat to help MI New York clinch the first-ever Major League Cricket title on July 30. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 137 runs off 55 balls as MI New York took down Seattle Orcas by seven wickets at Grand Prairie Stadium, here.

MI New York restricted Seattle Orcas to 183/9 before chasing down their target in just 16 overs.

Speaking about his team’s victory, the leading run-scorer in the tournament and MLC Season 1 MVP Pooran said, “We spoke today about having an opportunity to do something special. I am very proud of everything every individual did and everyone contributed in some way. The people in the dressing room told me that I just needed to bat like Nicky P and not think about batting like the captain. I just returned my skills. The platform was there today, and the opportunity was there.”

Meanwhile, the Seattle Orcas’ Captain Wayne Parnell said, “Whenever someone plays like that, you must give them credit. Credit to Nicky and his team. It did not look like he (Pooran) would mishit a ball today. We put up a decent total, but we must give them credit today. The first MLC season has gone well. Credit to everyone who has organized it. Credit to our owners and the management for picking this team and giving us the freedom to play this brand of cricket.”

When the men in blue and gold put on a supreme show to clinch the title, the New York team owner Nita M. Ambani was pitch side. She described the atmosphere for the final as ‘unbelievable and really exciting.’

Major League Cricket is the United States T20 cricket league.

Brief Scores: MI New York 184/3 (Nicholas Pooran 137*, Dewald Brevis 20, Imad Wasim 1/14) beat Seattle Orcas 183/9 (Quinton de Kock 87, Shubham Ranjane 29, Rashid Khan 3/9) by 7 wickets. Tournament Awards: SLING TV Most Valuable Player of the Tournament: Nicholas Pooran,  Royal Rice Leading Run Scorer: Nicholas Pooran, NTT Leading Wicket Taker: Trent Boult,  Bart King Domestic Player of the Tournament: Cameron Gannon