MINYvSOR report: Oh yassss!!!! We are off, chasing 200 with an over to spare
By MI New York Media
What. A. Feeling. This was exactly what we needed. After ending up on the wrong side of a couple of thrillers in the 2025 Cognizant MLC, we’ve managed to bury the ghosts, and how. At one point the asking rate really seemed to have gone beyond us, but no, with vintage Polly out in the middle, you never ever give up.
Why fear when Polly is here!
49 runs were needed off 22 balls when Kieron Pollard walked out. Michael Bracewell couldn’t quite get going until that point, battling on 26 off 29 balls. Polly wasted no time. The first ball went down the ground for four. The ball after went racing through mid-wicket. The intent was signaled. The mood was set.
And suddenly, Bracewell found his timing too, launching three sixes in Kyle Mayers’ 18th over. 23 were now needed off 12. After our mishaps in the last two games, we never were really comfortable. Obed McCoy ran in.
Ball 1: McCoy to Pollard - FOUR
Ball 2: McCoy to Pollard – FOUR
Ball 3: McCoy to Pollard – 1 run
Ball 4: McCoy to Bracewell – SIX
Ball 5: McCoy to Bracewell – 1 run (And he gets his Fifty as well)
Ball 6: McCoy to Pollard – wide
Ball 6: McCoy to Pollard – SIX
26 off 10. Kieron Pollard, seals the deal with an over to spare. Just. Polly. Things.
Monank in record-breaking mode
A target of 201 demands a solid start. Monank Patel gave us just that, and some more. “Really happy with the way we played, we fought till the end. In the second innings, when you try to hit too many shots, it is tough. Wanted to spend time, get set and then play some shots. When there was some extra pace, just wanted to use my pace,” he said in the presentation ceremony.
So, what did he do? 93 runs | 50 balls | 8 fours | 7 sixes. He never let the run-rate dip. He never let the momentum go away. He may have missed out on a well-deserved century, but this knock made sure he now holds the record for the highest score by a USA player in the MLC.
MINY start superbly with the ball, but the Orcas finish strong
At the 12-over stage, the Seattle Orcas were on 80/2. All our bowlers had done superbly to keep the scoring in check. But Kyle Mayers, along with Heinrich Klaasen and Shimron Hetmyer, cut loose in the death overs, notching up 120 in the last eight overs, and lifting their team to 200.
Phew, we really needed this. MI New York are off and running. The Oakland leg has produced some real thrillers and we’ve received great support too. It’s the perfect way for us to sign off as we head over to Dallas.
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