Eliminator report: A thriller for the ages, peak MI spirit, and a CHALLENGER SPOT BOOKED!!
By MI New York Media
A rollercoaster, a match that MI New York were bossing at one point, maybe one that never should have gotten this close, but also a match that at another point MINY had no business winning from. Oh, we need to calm our heart rates down. WHAT. A. THRILLER. What a result. We are through to the Challenger!
Boulty, Nosh, have SFU 16/5 and on the mat
Skipper Nicholas Pooran opted to bowl upon winning the toss and he couldn’t have been vindicated any sooner.
7-1 (Matthew Short, 1.4)
9-2 (Seifert, 2.1)
16-3 (Sanjay Krishnamurthi, 3.6)
16-4 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 4.1)
16-5 (Hassan Khan, 4.2)
Trent Boult and Nosthush Kenjige were wreaking havoc with two wickets apiece. Although Xavier Bartlett did well with a 24-ball 44 to get the Unicorns to a respectable 131, the damage was done.
Rushil joins the fun
He’s bowled with a massive heart all season. Rushil Ugarkar might have had some tough outings, but he’s been trusted to bowl the tough overs at the death and has come out with flying colors here. 3/19 in 3.1 overs, blowing away the tail, and cleaning them up without them lasting their quota of 20 overs.
From 81/2 to 108/8, drama unfolds
Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel led the chase with a sensible 43-run stand in the powerplay. Quinny was the aggressor, Monank the more measured anchor. Michael Bracewell then joined in and things seemed in control as him and Monank were cruising along with at 81/2 in the 12th over. Ah, we couldn’t do it without some drama could we? Hassan Khan triggered a collapse, and suddenly, we found ourselves in all sorts of trouble at 108/8, still 16 runs away.
Boulty swings them, even bigger with the bat
Nerves of ice! Trent Boult wasn’t one to be ruffled. With Nosh for company – the opening bowlers were finishing things with the bat. They calmly played out Bartlett for five runs in the 18th over. And Boulty unleashed his typical sixes, a shot that has a fanbase of its own. Two back to back hits down the ground, sailing over long-on, and 15 runs were milked off the 19th over. He saw MI New York home, carried us into the Challenger. Oh, goold ol’ Boulty!
The Texas Super Kings are up next. We have the momentum, we have the form, let’s blaze through!
