Kieron Pollard's Heroics Propel MI New York to MLC 2025 Final
Pollard Shines in Crucial Match
Dallas [US], July 12: Kieron Pollard, currently serving as the batting coach for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), showcased his allrounder skills once again at the age of 38. During a thrilling match on Friday night in Dallas, he played a pivotal role for MI New York, scoring an impressive unbeaten 47 runs off just 22 balls, leading his team to the MLC 2025 final. The Texas Super Kings, who were favorites to win, were left in disbelief as Pollard turned the game around, according to reports from ESPNcricinfo.
In pursuit of 167 runs, MI New York faced early challenges, losing Quinton de Kock and Michael Bracewell without significant contributions in the first seven overs. The team was struggling at 43 when Bracewell was dismissed, with Monank Patel trying to stabilize the innings, albeit at a modest strike rate of around 120. Nicholas Pooran joined Monank after Bracewell's exit but also found it difficult to score freely.
By the time Monank was out for a commendable 49 runs off 39 balls in the 13th over, MI New York had only managed to reach 83 runs.
Pollard entered the game and immediately made an impact, hitting his first ball from Noor Ahmad a staggering 100 meters down the ground, signaling a shift in momentum. Despite Pollard's explosive start, TSK managed to maintain pressure until the 16th over, with the required run rate still hovering around 12.5.
The turning point came when Zia-ul-Haq bowled, and Pollard unleashed a barrage of runs, hitting 6, 4, 4, 2, and another 6 in a single over, accumulating 23 runs and swinging the match decisively in MI New York's favor.
The remainder of the chase was straightforward. Pooran capped off the victory with his third six, finishing with 52 runs off 36 balls, while Pollard concluded his innings with 47 runs off 22 balls, his late-game performance proving crucial. MI New York, who had struggled with only three wins in ten league matches, fought through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 to secure their spot in the final against Washington Freedom.
The defeat was particularly hard for the Texas Super Kings, who had shown promise with their batting. Faf du Plessis led the innings with a solid 59 runs off 42 balls, even as wickets fell around him. After a shaky start, TSK found hope in a partnership between Akeal Hosein and Donovan Ferreira, who added 81 runs in just 45 balls. Hosein scored an aggressive 55 off 32 balls, while Ferreira contributed 32 off 20, helping TSK reach a competitive total of 166/5.
Ultimately, it wasn't enough to secure the win. Pollard, supported by Pooran, ensured MI New York completed a remarkable comeback and advanced to the final with confidence and momentum on their side.