Challenger report: WE ARE INTO THE FINAL! Polly-Pooran epic show carries us through
By MI New York Media
“Not sure how we got to the finals but we are in the finals now. Stay calm and build the energy and keep believing,” captain Nicholas Pooran said at the end of play.
MI New York had one win in their first seven games. But in typical #OneFamily fashion, the team refused to throw in the towel. Tournaments are never about how you start, they are always about how you finish, and this team has been all about that. Building momentum at the right time, peaking when it matters, and now STORMING INTO THE FINAL!!
Young turks shine with the ball
Just the fact that Tristan Luus and Rushil Ugarkar shared five wickets among themselves, and were the only ones to pick up wickets, should tell you how well they’ve stepped up on the big stage. They had the TSK batters in a web in the powerplay, reducing them to 43/3 inside the powerplay. Faf du Plessis held fort for them with a fifty, and then Akeal Hosein and Donovan Ferreira had a good partnership at the death that carried them to 166/5.
Oh, Monank!
The man with nerves of steel! Quinton de Kock and Michael Bracewell fell early, but the revelation of the tournament, Monank Patel, held fort, at one stage outscoring Pooran as well. He steadied the ship, with five fours and two sixes, for a 39-ball 49, setting the platform for the chase perfectly..
Polly-Pooran, tried, tested, proven match-winners
MINY needed 87 off 46 balls when they got together. Pooran had not yet found his groove and was looking a tad scratchy, batting on 17 off 18 balls. But Kieron Pollard wasted no time in getting into the groove. He smacked the first ball he faced for a six down the ground, signaling his intentions. Some risk-free cricket took the equation to 50 off 24.
And then came the explosion. 6, 4, 4, 2, 6 off Zia-ul-Haq, and Polly did what he’s been doing against in the Blue and Gold the Super Kings over all these years in the El Clasico – winning matches from the dead. 4, 6 off Milne in the very next over, and Pooran joined the act as well. 23 runs came off the 17th over, 13 off the 18th and 19 off the 19th.
Game won with an over to spare. Final spot sealed.
“I think the intent was the key,” said Player of the Match, Pollard at the end of play. Boy, the intent was there for the world to see. He’s carried the team through for the zillionth time.
