MLC 2025: All-round Kieron Pollard helps MI New York beat LAKR by 6 runs; stay in hunt for playoffs
Kieron Pollard
's half-century and game-changing penultimate over helped MI New York (MINY) beat Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) by six runs in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025. The loss effectively eliminated LAKR's playoff contention, while MINY stayed in the hunt.
In a match where momentum swung wildly at extremities, LAKR's inability to close out the chase proved costly. Jason Holder's men fell short despite needing just 29 off the last three overs with eight wickets in hand.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The slow pitch also challenged MI NY early. The men in blue suffered a shaky start, losing their top order in quick succession during the powerplay. Shadley van Schalkwyk provided key breakthroughs, removing Quinton de Kock and Tajinder Singh, while Corne Dry dismissed the tournament's leading run-scorer, Monank Patel, thanks to a stunning catch in the outfield by Saif Badar.
Skipper Nicholas Pooran attempted to steady the innings with a cautious 30 off 24 balls before being dismissed via a juggling catch behind the stumps by Unmukt Chand off Sunil Narine. Michael Bracewell followed shortly after, holing out to Holder at long-on as Dry's clever change of pace paid off again.
With half the side gone and the scoreboard barely keeping pace with the overs, Pollard began his assault in the 17th over, launching Andre Russell for back-to-back sixes.
After a quiet over from Holder, Pollard went again—dispatching van Schalkwyk for two more sixes before falling for a vital 50 off 36, caught by Holder, whose brilliant final over helped restrict MINY to a competitive total of 142/9.
In reply, LAKR lost their dangerous opener Andre Fletcher early in the second over, before Unmukt Chand and Alex Hales began to rebuild. Hales' lean run this season continued, making a labored 21 off 26, while Chand played anchor with a slow but steady knock as the Knight Riders chased their first win.
MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand's road to redemption in America
But MI New York's varied bowling attack kept things tight in the middle overs. Chand and Sherfane Rutherford struggled to find boundaries, and though LAKR were still in control needing just 29 off the last 18 balls, Pollard's tight penultimate over—conceding only 5 runs and claiming Rutherford's wicket—tilted the game dramatically.
With 16 needed off the final over, LA Knight Riders made a debatable call to retire Chand and send in skipper Holder.
But Ehsan Adil held his nerve brilliantly, sealing a 6-run win that knocked LA Knight Riders out of the tournament.
Brief Scores
MINY:
142/9 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 50, Nicholas Pooran 30; Shadley van Schalkwyk 3/24, Corne Dry 2/25, Jason Holder 2/28)
LAKR:
136/4 in 20 overs (Unmukt Chand 59, Sherfane Rutherford 29, Alex Hales 21; Nosthush Kenjige 1/14, Kieron Pollard 1/12)
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match
here.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: After 'I will try to score 200 next time' remark, Vaibhav Suryavanshi now scores ...
Vaibhav Suryavanshi of India (Photo by) Just days after declaring his intention to score a double-century, India U19 batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, continued to impress with another composed innings against England U19 in the fifth Youth ODI at Worcester on Monday. The 14-year-old opener, who had smashed a record-breaking 52-ball century in the fourth ODI, backed up his words with a gritty 33 off 42 balls, providing a solid start to India's innings after they opted to bat first. Though not a flamboyant knock by his standards, the innings was full of intent and maturity. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Suryavanshi struck three 4s and two 6s, maintaining a steady strike rate before falling to Sebastian Morgan in the 15th over with the team's score on 60. His dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, but contributions from RS Ambrish and Kanishk Chouhan helped India pose a defendable total. Suryavanshi, already a national sensation after his IPL 2025 century, is fast becoming the face of India's next-gen cricket. His recent comments — "I will try to score 200 next time" — came after watching Shubman Gill ' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo s iconic 269 at Edgbaston, a knock that left a deep impression on the teenager. 'Even after scoring 100 and 200, he kept at it and took the game forward. So, I also had it in mind that I could have batted for longer because there was a lot of time, 20 overs were left. I could have extended my innings, but there was a shot that I couldn't connect 100% which is why I got out; otherwise, I would have tried to bat as long as him.,' he had said in a BCCI video. He also revealed he didn't know he had broken the Youth ODI century record until told by the team manager. Despite missing out on a big score in this match, Suryavanshi's hunger for runs and his fearless approach remain clear. With India already leading the series 3-1, fans will eagerly watch whether he can make good on his double-century dream sooner rather than later. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
WTC 2025-27: India open account with record Edgbaston win; Australia top early standings
NEW DELHI: Team India opened their account in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a dominant 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston on Sunday. The emphatic win, led by captain , earned India 12 WTC points and a 50.00 percentage of points (PCT), placing them joint-third alongside England in the current standings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. This was India's first victory in the ongoing five-match Test series, following a five-wicket loss to England in the opener at Headingley. With the series level at 1-1, the win also marked India's biggest-ever away Test win in terms of runs and their maiden Test triumph at Edgbaston. Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir shut critics with thumping win over England The current WTC cycle is still in its early stages, with most teams having played only two matches. Australia sit comfortably at the top of the standings with a perfect 100.00 PCT, having sealed the three-match series against West Indies 2-0, with one game still to be played. Sri Lanka follow in second place with 66.67 PCT, courtesy of a win and a draw in their two-match home series against Bangladesh. Bangladesh, after losing that series 0-1, find themselves in fifth place with 16.67 PCT. West Indies are sixth with 0 points from two losses against Australia, while New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa are yet to begin their campaigns in the new cycle. The third Test between India and England begins at Lord's on July 10, with the result likely to impact the early race in the WTC table. With Jasprit Bumrah set to return, and Shubman Gill leading from the front both as batter and skipper, India will aim to build further momentum in their pursuit of a third WTC final appearance.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: 'India too good, but …' - Michael Vaughan stands by 3-1 England prediction
Michael Vaughan (Photo Credits: Getty Images) India's stunning 336-run win over England in the second Test at Edgbaston may have levelled the five-match series 1-1, but former England captain Michael Vaughan isn't backing down from his pre-series prediction of a 3-1 victory in favour of the hosts. 'India have been too good this week .. Outstanding performance .. My prediction is still alive .. 3-1 England ..' Vaughan posted on X, acknowledging India's dominance but staying firm on his forecast. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In his column for The Telegraph, however, Vaughan was more critical of England, accusing them of regressing after Headingley. 'This week, they were back to their bad old ways,' he wrote. 'Apart from four hours on the third day where Harry Brook and Jamie Smith batted beautifully, they have been totally dominated by India.' Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir shut critics with thumping win over England Vaughan pointed out that England misread their opening win in Leeds, where dropped catches by India tilted the momentum. 'They turned up here and thought they should do everything the same way, and it has backfired,' he said, warning that relying on 'fortune' won't win big series. Poll Will England still win the series 3-1 as predicted by Michael Vaughan? Yes, they will bounce back No, India will take the series 'You win games relying on fortune, but not big series like this one or the Ashes,' he added, urging England to 'evolve' rather than base their method on a single game. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Former pacer Stuart Broad, speaking on Sky Sports, also raised red flags about England's bowling setup. 'I'd be worried about this Indian bowling attack at Lord's,' he said, highlighting the threat of Akash Deep and the returning Bumrah. 'If it swings, you've got Bumrah who swings it so late and will be dangerous.' 'Any attack of ours can take 20 wickets anywhere': Shubman Gill hails Mohd Siraj, Akash Deep after historic Edgbaston win With the third Test at Lord's starting July 10, both pundits stressed the need for England to reassess quickly. India, meanwhile, appear primed to keep the pressure on. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
