MLC Final 2023: Why Nicholas Pooran's(137*) knock will not be added to official record ?
MI New York won the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) after beating Seattle Orcas by seven wickets in the final.
Crickate
On Monday, July 31, MI New York claimed the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) by defeating Seattle Orcas by seven wickets in the championship match. Nicholas Pooran, the stand-in captain, dominated with the bat, scoring 137* runs in just 55 deliveries. As the MLC does not have a legitimate T20 status, this innings will not be added to his record.
As the tournament took place in the United States, an Associate member nation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not granted it official Twenty20 status. It is fascinating to note that the ICC has sanctioned the MLC, but unlike popular tournaments such as the Abu Dhabi T10 League, US Masters T10 League, Global T20 Canada, and ILT20, the six-team tournament has not been granted the all-important T20 status. However, this should not detract from Nicholas Pooran's lightning-fast strike that ignited the stage.
During the memorable at-bat, the southpaw hit 10 fours and 13 sixes and reached the century mark in just 40 balls. Pooran stepped up in the absence of the regular commander Kieron Pollard as the MI brand added another title to its cabinet.
Mjaor Leauge Cricket 2023 Records
Most runs
Nicholas Pooran (MI New York) - 388
Most wickets
Trent Boult (MI New York) - 22
Highest individual score
Nicholas Pooran (137*) vs Seattle Orcas (final)
Best spell of the season
Saurabh Netravalkar (6/9) vs San Francisco Unicorns
Rashid Khan and Trent Boult the gamechanger duo
Nicholas Pooran won the coin toss and elected to bowl first in the MLC 2023 championship match at Dallas' Grand Prairie Stadium. Quinton de Kock was in fine form for the Wayne Parnell-led team, scoring 87 runs off only 52 deliveries. Shubham Ranjane (29 off 16) and Dwaine Pretorius (21 off 7) cameos helped SEO set MINY a formidable target of 184. However, if not for the efforts of veteran bowlers Trent Boult and Rashid Khan, the target could have been in excess of 200.
Before the final, the Afghan spinner had a surprisingly calm tournament. However, when the stakes are high, the best players rise to the occasion, as was the case for Rashid, who concluded with astounding figures of 3/9 in his four overs. Boult, on the other hand, was not as economical, but he did take the crucial wickets of de Kock and Ranjane to stem the flood of runs in the SEO innings' final stages.
MINY lost Steven Taylor in the first over, but due to Pooran's blitz, they were able to chase the formidable target of 184 with four overs to spare.
