MINYvWF report: “Another 10-15 runs could’ve been the difference”, Pooran rues another thriller that goes against us
By MI New York Media
Arghhhh. Just not the result you want against your game after giving a fight as proper as this. Let’s face it, the Washington Freedom were favorites to win the game with the asking rate always being in their favor. But the way the MI New York bowlers fought, stitching in the dot balls, hitting back with wickets, we really had hope. Alas..
The comeback from 20 being needed off 24
Washington needed 20 off 24 balls. The game seemed done. They were romping home. Not so easily when you have MINY at the other end though! Naveen-ul-Haq, on a mission after the previous game to rectify his death bowling, produced an absolute beauty of an over – picking the wicket of Obus Pienaar and conceding just two runs. Trent Boult did better in the next, giving away just one run. Suddenly, the equation was at 17 being needed off 12. Alas, it wasn’t to be as Mark Chapman killed the game with a couple of boundaries.
Another day, another Monank special
He continues his dream run: 62, 20, 93 and now a 20-ball 32, setting the tone in the powerplay to get MINY off to another solid start. Quinton de Kock found his groove as well, smashing a 34-ball 55, studded with seven fours and two sixes to lay the platform for a big total. Although Michael Bracewell produced a 24-ball 42, the final explosion to get us past 200 didn’t quite come from the others as MINY had to settle for 188/4 in their 20 overs.
The Sunny Patel-styled fight
He began with the wicket of Andries Gous in the powerplay, but it his wicket of the big fish – Mitchell Owen – who was on a rampage to get 62 off just 26 balls, that brought us back in the game in the first place. His change-ups in pace along with a bunch of variations have been quite handy all season.
Sadly, with cameos from Glenn Maxwell, Jack Edwards and Mark Chapman, the Washington Freedom got home in the final over. Let’s not get too disheartened, folks. We’re still in the first half of the league here. There’s enough positives for us to know that it is only a matter of time before the tide turns. And when it does, we’ll make sure it’s a tsunami!
