Nicholas Pooran exhibited a sensational display of batting prowess for MI New York as they took on the Washington Freedom at Church Street Park in Morrisville on July 23. The game was crucial for MI New York’s chances of qualifying, and Pooran’s heroics in the ninth over proved to be the turning point.

Brought in at No.3, Pooran started slowly, scoring just one run off his first three deliveries. However, he swiftly changed the game’s momentum by smashing three consecutive sixes in the next four balls. His first six soared over long-off, narrowly escaping the fielder’s grasp. The second six was a powerful hit to the midwicket boundary, taking advantage of a half-tracker delivered by left-arm spinner Obus Pienaar.

Pooran continued his domination as Pienaar switched to bowling over the wicket, dispatching the third six over long-off again. The over yielded a remarkable 22 runs, all but confirming MI New York’s victory. Following Pooran’s blazing performance, MI New York’s score skyrocketed to 97-1 after nine overs, setting a strong foundation for their triumphant run chase.

Nicholas Pooran said they started aggressively and he took advantage of favourable match-ups

THE BOUNDARIES ARE FLOWING!🌊🌊🌊

Nicholas Pooran JOINS THE PARTY🎉 with 3 SIXES in FOUR BALLS!

9⃣1⃣/1⃣ (8.5) pic.twitter.com/zDvMCbTcUr

— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 23, 2023

Pooran’s unbeaten innings of 62 runs off 33 deliveries, coupled with skipper Kieron Pollard’s quick cameo of 21 runs off 10 balls, sealed the deal for the team.

In the post-match presentation, Pooran described the pitch as “a bit two-paced” and somewhat sticky. Nevertheless, he expressed his satisfaction with the team’s attacking approach and credited his focus on favourable match-ups as the key to his success.

The win comes at a crucial juncture for MI New York, as it significantly improves their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the competition. With one game left to play, they currently occupy the third position on the points table. Sporting a net run rate of +1.319, which is the highest among all teams, the Kieron Pollard-led side is now well-positioned to secure a top-two finish.

Nicholas Pooran’s remarkable innings and MI New York’s impressive overall performance have boosted their confidence as they approach the business end of the tournament. The team’s attacking mindset and strategic approach have proven fruitful, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into their final match and potentially secure a top spot in the points table.

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