Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
17 | 6 Runs | MI NY: 134/6 | RR: 7.88

  • Rashid Khan5 (5b)
  • Kieron Pollard33 (12b)
  • Corné Dry3-0-15-1
  • Ali Khan1-0-10-1

11:25pm That will be a wrap from us for this game. Hope you enjoyed our coverage, and we will be back with more MLC action tomorrow. Until then, this is goodbye from Chandan, me and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo!

Rashid Khan, Player of the Match: I think it was much-needed for us. Pleased with the win. In the middle overs, when I am bowling, it is crucial for me to take wickets to put pressure on the opposition. Always pleasing when you win such a (must-win) game. It was all about the line and length (on this pitch). Tried to hit the right areas and then bowl my leg-spinners, wrong'uns and straighter ones. (On the ball that dismissed Nitish Kumar) I bowled to him a few quicker balls (which he was keeping out). I bowled that ball from behind the crease, which allowed me to give it more air. It was what I had in mind and it went perfectly. In a short competition, you need momentum and this game has given us momentum and it will help us in the upcoming games.

Kieron Pollard, MI New York captain: Very, very relieved. To qualify for the playoffs…it has been tough for us as a team (this season). Congratulations has to go the entire team. The way we fought and to win by a certain margin, well done to everybody. If you look at the history of how we have batted this season, it was going to be tough. We got an opportunity today to forget what has happened in the past and play one good game of cricket. The attitude everyone brought today was fantastic. (On what worked today with the bat for him) A little bit of experience, I guess. Nosh, a few days back, (Kenjige) told me that I was just one or two knocks away (from being back in form). Have some close confidants here. (On the Russell wicket) No matter what you have accomplished, sometimes you need a bit of confidence. That could have been a defining factor. Rushil bowled three magnificent overs but could not throw him into the deep end. Everything that is being done is in the best interests of the team, and really happy we fought to qualify. I heard a little child was hurt (during the game), and we would love to do something from our side to make her smile.

Sunil Narine, Los Angeles Knight Riders captain: (On where they lost the game) The score. Tough to defend 130, especially against a batting line-up like that. Pooran batted brilliantly and Polly finished it at the end. We fought till the end. (On what needs improvement) I have to probably work on my toss skills (laughs). We did not get good starts. I did not get off in any game. The general vibe in the team was good. When you lose games, the vibe can change. Very good tournament for us, very close to qualifying but still far away. (On if they could have done anything differently when Pollard and Pooran were batting together) Not too sure. We tried everything, it did not work out, they came out on top. We obviously had to go for wickets, and in that, runs can come. (Message to the supporters) We will keep fighting and giving our 100%. The team has been brilliant. Want to give credit to all the guys who have put in the effort.

Nicholas Pooran: We have been in this situation before. Winning the toss today was crucial and the bowlers did their job. (On his approach today) No secret about it: I had to put my hand up and take responsibility. I had to play the waiting game. Important to just be there at the end. Most of the times, in games like this, your presence is important. Happy Polly could finish it off because he needed this one. Today, he wanted to play that finishing role and he is probably better than anyone playing that role. In games like this, he stands up. I joke with him often that he knows how to come back not out and I am not surprised (he did it today). Big games, big players come to the party.

11:01pm Just like last season, MI New York sneak into the playoffs as the fourth-placed side. Bulk of their work was done with the ball but there were moments where it felt it would slip away in the chase. Brevis, though, did enough at the top and Pooran held everything together in the middle, which allowed skipper Pollard to roll up his sleeves and knock the stuffing out of the Knight Riders. This was easily his best knock of the season and he reserved it for when his team needed it most.

An abject and disappointing end to the campaign for LAKR. They bowled with heart and Johnson's opening spell, in particular, was a sight to behold. Narine did his bit through the middle overs too but because of how few they had put up on the board, they were always behind the eight-ball, and it eventually caught up with them, also leading to their elimination from the MLC.

16.6
4
Dry to Rashid Khan, FOUR, start the car, we are outta here! MI New York make the playoffs, at the Los Angeles Knight Riders' expense and the defending champions live to see another day! Slower bumper outside off. Rashid continues swinging like a rusty gate and gets a top edge that floats away past the keeper. Not the most convincing end, but this has been a convincing display, just when MINY needed it too!
16.5
0
Dry to Rashid Khan, no run, another off-pace ball hung up outside off. Rashid advances and then nearly swishes himself off his feet. Still cannot make contact
16.4
0
Dry to Rashid Khan, no run, another top yorker, this time honing into the pads. Rashid jams his bat down a little too late and cannot squeeze it out
16.3
0
Dry to Rashid Khan, no run, excellent slower yorker on off stump. Rashid picks it just in time and squirts it off the inside edge towards the keeper
16.2
1
Dry to Pollard, 1 run, angled in full on leg stump. Pollard nudges it towards long on and the scores are now level
16.2
1w
Dry to Pollard, 1 wide, slow and short outside off. Too wide outside off, the umpire reckons, and called a wide as Pollard swings wildly and misses
16.1
0
Dry to Pollard, no run, chance put down! Slower delivery into the track outside off. Pollard is way too early into the pull and chalks it back towards the bowler. Dry flings out his right mitt but cannot make it stick

Three needed. Dry to bowl

END OF OVER:
16 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | MI NY: 128/6 (3 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 0.75)

  • Kieron Pollard32 (10b)
  • Rashid Khan1 (1b)
  • Ali Khan1-0-10-1
  • Spencer Johnson4-0-35-1
15.6
1
Ali Khan to Pollard, 1 run, very full outside off. Driven down the ground to long off
15.5
1
Ali Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 run, fired into the pads. Rashid uses the pace and glances it down to fine leg

Rashid strides out

Major League Cricket News

New York 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st32D BrevisR Clinton
2nd4N PooranD Brevis
3rd6N PooranMD Patel
4th36N PooranH Richards
5th13N PooranR Shepherd
6th35KA PollardN Pooran
7th8KA PollardRashid Khan