Trent Boult's Heroics Lead MI New York to Victory Over San Francisco Unicorns

Trent Boult Shines in Major League Cricket Showdown

Dallas [US], July 10: Renowned for his exceptional death-bowling skills in T20 cricket, Trent Boult made a significant impact with the bat at Grand Prairie Stadium, helping MI New York secure a thrilling 2-wicket victory against the San Francisco Unicorns in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target of 132 runs in a rain-affected eliminator, MI New York started confidently, finishing the powerplay at 37 runs without losing a wicket.

However, the Unicorns' Matthew Short turned the tide by dismissing both Quinton de Kock and captain Nicholas Pooran in his second over, reigniting hope for his team, as reported by the MLC website.

With his partners falling quickly, Monank Patel attempted to stabilize the innings alongside Michael Bracewell. Unfortunately, Short struck again, sending Patel back for a cautious 33 runs off the first ball of his third over.

As MI New York needed 40 runs at nearly a run-a-ball, Xavier Bartlett made a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Kieron Pollard, further boosting the Unicorns' confidence.

The Unicorns' belief grew stronger when Hassan Khan delivered an impressive over, taking out both Michael Bracewell and Heath Richards in consecutive deliveries, leaving MI New York in a precarious position at 98/6, requiring 34 runs from the last five overs.

Hassan continued his excellent performance, claiming two more wickets in his next over, which left MI New York struggling at 108/8, still needing 24 runs with the tail exposed.

As the Unicorns sought just two more wickets for a remarkable comeback, Trent Boult forged a crucial 9th-wicket partnership with Nosthush Kenjige, showcasing a final stand of resilience.

Despite Hassan Khan's efforts to secure a spot in the second qualifier for the Unicorns, Boult's back-to-back sixes in his final over ultimately thwarted their plans.

Earlier in the match, Boult and Kenjige's devastating opening spell dismantled the Unicorns' top order during the powerplay. Kenjige initiated the collapse by dismissing the aggressive Matthew Short in his first over.

Boult quickly followed suit, having Tim Seifert caught behind, while Kenjige claimed Sanjay Krishnamurthi as his second wicket. The Unicorns' woes deepened when Boult sent Jake Fraser-McGurk and Hassan Khan back to the pavilion in consecutive deliveries, leaving them in dire straits at 21/5 after five overs.

Cooper Connolly (23 off 19), Hammad Azam (11 off 18), and Brody Couch (19 off 18) managed to add some runs for the Unicorns before Rushil Ugarkar dismissed both Azam and Couch in a tidy spell.

Xavier Bartlett, batting at number 7, provided the only significant contribution for his team, scoring 44 runs off 24 balls, including four sixes, before the Unicorns were bowled out for 131 in 19.3 overs.

Trent Boult's impactful wickets during the powerplay and his composed batting earned him the Player of the Match award. The seasoned Kiwi player maintained his composure when it mattered most, guiding MI New York to victory and setting up a Qualifier 2 clash against the Texas Super Kings on Friday evening.

Match Summary:

MI New York defeated San Francisco Unicorns by 2 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)

SFU: 131 all out in 19.3 overs (Xavier Bartlett 44, Cooper Connolly 23, Brody Couch 19; Rushil Ugarkar 3/19, Trent Boult 2/19, Nosthush Kenjige 2/43)

MINY: 132/8 in 19.3 overs (Quinton de Kock 33, Monank Patel 33, Trent Boult 22; Hassan Khan 4/30, Matthew Short 3/22).