In a contest that delivered drama in spades and tested the nerves of players and spectators alike, MI New York emerged victorious against the San Francisco Unicorns in a low-scoring, see-sawing thriller. The Major League Cricket (MLC) knockout fixture saw last year`s finalists, the Unicorns, eliminated, while MINY advanced to face the Texas Super Kings in the Challenger match.
The match ultimately hinged on a moment of late brilliance, but getting there was a journey through contrasting fortunes and collapsing batting orders. It was a narrative twist worthy of a script, culminating in an unlikely hero facing the bowler who had just brought his team to the brink.
Unicorns Stumble, Then Fight Back
Winning the toss proved crucial for MINY captain Nicholas Pooran, particularly with rain clouds gathering. His bowlers wasted no time exploiting favorable conditions. Spearheaded by the reliable Trent Boult (2-19) and Nosthush Kenjige, MINY ripped through the Unicorns` top order with surgical precision within the PowerPlay. The scoreboard, a stark indicator of the early collapse, read a precarious 16 for 5 at one stage, a position from which recovery seemed a distant dream.
Yet, cricket often reserves its biggest efforts for moments of adversity. The lower order, notably Xavier Bartlett, decided despair was not an option. Bartlett, supported initially by Brody Couch and others, launched a counter-offensive that was both courageous and vital. His rapid 44 off just 24 deliveries provided a much-needed injection of runs and momentum. While MINY`s Rushil Ugarkar (3-19) and Tristan Luus kept chipping away, Bartlett`s defiance ensured the Unicorns scraped their way to a total of 133 before being bowled out in the final over of their innings. It felt sub-par, certainly, but offered *something* to defend.
A rain delay followed, adding to the tension, but thankfully cleared, allowing the chase to begin without any reduction in overs or target.
MINY`s Turn for a Tumble
MINY`s response started confidently. Openers Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock established a solid foundation, guiding the team to 37 without loss. The chase appeared to be progressing smoothly, perhaps too smoothly.
Then, the script flipped. San Francisco`s spinners orchestrated a dramatic comeback. Captain Matthew Short led the charge, taking key wickets including the dangerous de Kock and Pooran. But the most impactful spell came from left-arm spinner Hassan Khan. In a mesmerizing display, Khan bowled two overs that single-handedly swung the pendulum violently back towards the Unicorns. Picking up two wickets in each, he dismantled MINY`s middle and lower order, reducing them from a relatively stable 98 for 4 to a reeling 108 for 8 in a frantic 13-ball period.
Suddenly, the modest target of 134 looked mountainous. With 25 runs still required and only two wickets in hand, one could sense the Unicorns believing their unlikely comeback was complete.
The Penultimate Act: Boult vs. Khan
Enter Trent Boult at number 9. The bowler who had helped decimate the Unicorns` top order now found himself with the bat, facing the bowler who had just ripped through his own team`s line-up. With 25 needed off 22 balls, the tension was palpable. As Hassan Khan stepped up to bowl the crucial 19th over, the stage was set for a moment of high drama.
Khan opted to test the tail-ender with short, quick deliveries. It was a calculated gamble, but one that backfired spectacularly. Boult, summoning surprising composure and power, met the challenge head-on. He unleashed two massive, successive sixes over deep mid-wicket, clearing the boundary with ease. Just like that, the equation plummeted, the momentum shifted decisively, and the air crackled with the realization that MINY were back in control.
Boult`s audacious hitting in that over effectively sealed the deal. With only four runs needed from the final over, he and his batting partner navigated the remaining deliveries with sensible play, reaching the target with three balls to spare. Boult remained unbeaten on a match-winning 22, a knock as crucial as any he has played with the ball.
The victory marked MI New York`s first-ever win against San Francisco Unicorns in MLC history and, more importantly, secured their passage to the next stage of the playoffs. For the Unicorns, a valiant lower-order fightback and a superb bowling effort from Hassan Khan ultimately weren`t enough to overcome the early damage and Trent Boult`s decisive late intervention.
Brief Scores:
San Francisco Unicorns 133 all out in 19.1 overs (Xavier Bartlett 44; Rushil Ugarkar 3-19, Trent Boult 2-19) lost to MI New York 134/8 in 19.3 overs (Monank Patel 33, Quinton de Kock 33, Trent Boult 22*; Hassan Khan 4-30, Matthew Short 3-22) by 2 wickets.
(Note: The target was 134. MI New York reached this target having lost 8 wickets.)
