MI New York produced a complete all-round performance to defeat Los Angeles Knight Riders by six wickets in Match 20 of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 season at Knight Riders Cricket Field. After electing to bowl first, MINY restricted the Knight Riders to a competitive 165/6 before captain Kieron Pollard‘s unbeaten half-century guided the side to victory with one ball to spare. Pollard was deservedly named the Player of the Match for his match-winning knock.
Corbin Bosch and Rushil Ugarkar restrict Knight Riders despite late flourish
After winning the toss and opting to field, MI New York made early inroads through Corbin Bosch and Rushil Ugarkar. Andre Fletcher gave Los Angeles Knight Riders a positive start with 34 off 26 balls, including two fours and three sixes, but Unmukt Chand fell cheaply for just one run.
Matthew Tromp then steadied the innings with a composed 44 off 36 deliveries, striking four boundaries and a six, while Rovman Powell chipped in with a useful 23 from 19 balls. However, the innings truly came alive in the closing overs when Jason Holder launched a counterattack. The all-rounder smashed 43 off only 22 deliveries, hitting three fours and three sixes to push the total beyond the 160-run mark. Sunil Narine also added a quick eight from just three balls with a six before the innings closed at 165/6 in 20 overs.
Bosch was the standout bowler for MI New York, claiming impressive figures of 3/19 in his four overs. Ugarkar matched him with three wickets of his own, although he conceded 43 runs. Trent Boult kept things tight with an economical spell of 0/28, while the rest of the attack did enough to prevent the Knight Riders from posting a bigger total.
Kieron Pollard anchors successful chase after early setback
The chase did not begin as planned for MI New York as Quinton de Kock was dismissed for a duck inside the opening over. Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran then rebuilt cautiously, with Monank contributing 32 off 29 balls before departing after giving the innings some much-needed stability.
Pooran struggled to accelerate and made 16 from 23 deliveries before falling, leaving MI New York needing a strong finish. Pollard took control of the chase with a vintage innings, combining power with smart strike rotation. The veteran remained unbeaten on 63 off just 35 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes while keeping the required rate firmly under control.
Corey Anderson provided the ideal support from the other end with an aggressive 37 off 24 deliveries that featured four towering sixes. Tajinder Singh then put the finishing touches on the chase with a rapid 10 off just three balls, helping MI New York reach 168/4 in 19.5 overs and seal a comfortable six-wicket victory.
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Sunil Narine shines with the ball but Knight Riders fall short
Los Angeles Knight Riders found little assistance from their bowling attack despite Narine delivering an exceptional spell. The mystery spinner conceded just seven runs in his four overs and kept the pressure on throughout, but he went wicketless as MI New York’s batters played him cautiously.
Carmi le Roux picked up two wickets and Shadley van Schalkwyk claimed one, while Holder also struck once. However, expensive spells from Holder and Andre Russell allowed MI New York to maintain the momentum during the chase.
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