Los Angeles vs New York, 24th Match at Lauderhill, MLC, Jul 03 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

Today's victory means MI New York stays in the Playoff hunt, and the Los Angeles Knight Riders are officially out! And that's a wrap on today's MLC action! Thanks for joining us. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for a double-header! Until then, this is Rashad Mahbub, signing off on behalf of K Vairavan and the entire ESPNcricinfo crew. Goodnight and goodbye!

Nicholas Pooran: "First of all, give Jesus our praise and thanks. We know we're coming to different conditions. Today it's tough. The rain has been around, and the conditions actually suited us a bit, swinging a bit there. And obviously, we have a world-class bowler. Trent there. And today, he was up for the challenge. He wanted the new ball. He wanted to swing it. We put some pressure on him as well. Told him it's similar conditions to Test cricket, so let's see what's going to happen. And he stood up for us. Getting those two wickets in the Powerplay overs is really, really important. And the way the spinners bowled, Sherfane played a really good innings there, putting the pressure on the spinners as well. The way Polly [Pollard] came and used the experience and the condition was exceptional. That's something we keep speaking about in the dressing room. We want to use the conditions. Why are the other teams using the conditions better than us? And today, we use the condition really nicely. I'm just really happy that we can restrict them, and kudos to the bowlers. [Structure the plan] Partnership, really important, a left-right combination. Monank has been batting well throughout the tournament, and today, it was just really important for us to get that partnership. The game obviously played out for us, where we knew Sunil was going to have the ball and try to get wickets earlier. Now, the plan was just to try to play him out as much as possible, but by having good intent towards him as well as trying to score, he's world-class. Kudos to him again. Well bowled, but in that partnership it's difficult to bowl to a left-right combination. And I think that Monank played really well and put the pressure on them. Allow me to get in and obviously come back, coming onto the back end, that was a bit easy, and the game just played off itself."

Most Valuable Player, Trent Boult: "[Wicket taking master in the first over] I wouldn't say the master, but I have a very clear role to try to take wickets. We know what wickets are and how important they are in this format. Obviously, some humid conditions, but a swing around. You just have to make the most of those conditions. So nice to see the stumps light up a couple of times tonight. You've got to have a plan B. I think in some cases, a Plan C is important as well. And I think the best bowlers in the world move between those plans quick enough to not get hurt too quickly. But yeah, I suppose I'm experienced enough to have played around the world in different conditions, and the sooner you read the conditions, I think, as a bowler, and the sooner you're in control, it's always a good step. [Swing the ball] A lot of practice. But as a young kid growing up, I used to aspire to many fast bowlers that swung the ball, and T20 Cricket can be a lot of big sixes and big scores. There's a big place for swing bowling still in this game. So, hopefully not just myself but a lot of the swing bowlers around the world are inspiring kids to want to come up and try to move the ball."

Jason Holder: "As I said at the toss, I thought it was very crucial. It was quite tacky up front, the ball spun, and it made it a little bit difficult up front to get going. I think both teams struggle up front. The ball still seems to run a lot and still grips at the same time. So, not easy conditions to get going in, and it's hard to gauge, what a good total would be. And obviously, it's very wet in the second half. [Andre Russell at number 3] I just think that he's in a position where he needs a little bit more time. He came in the last game and did a really good job for us. So we just continue with the same vein. I thought he got off to a pretty good start. Unfortunately, got up to one that kept a little bit low. But that's cricket. Look, I think we've had great sparks in each game; we've done a lot of good things. As I said at the toss, just a matter for us to put together a complete game, having said that, we've let ourselves down in the field. Even tactically, in terms of our bowling and batting, we just fall to that crucial stage in the game. I don't think we seize the really good moments in each and every game that we had to win, and you know it definitely cost us in the end."

11:20 pm What a commanding victory for MI New York, a true statement win that puts them back on track! The chase began with immediate drama: two dropped catches in the first two overs gave the batters a couple of lifelines. Sunil Narine was brought into the attack in the third over and proved to be unplayable on this pitch. Quinton de Kock narrowly survived two close LBW shouts but eventually chipped a catch to slip on the last ball of Narine's over. The excitement didn't stop there; in Narine's very next over, two more catches were put down behind the stumps, and another chance flew over the slip fielder's head. In the eighth over, the Knight Riders' game awareness issue continued when they failed to appeal for Nicholas Pooran's caught behind chance off the outside edge. Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran exhibited remarkable poise in the face of all the early mayhem, which included wasted opportunities, poor fielding, and a pitch that offered turn, swing, and bounce. They steadily kept the scoreboard ticking as they negotiated the minefield pitch in the early session. Monank Patel and his captain bult an incredible 112-run partnership off 84 balls, with Patel scoring a vital 56 runs off 44 balls. With a brilliant 62 runs off 47 deliveries, Pooran remained unbeaten till the end of the match. Since Narine's overs provided the majority of the Knight Riders' chances to take wickets on this turning track, they really felt the absence of an extra spinner or two. In the end, the Knight Riders' problems continue to exist, especially with their bowling and fielding.

MI New York won by 8 wickets

Scores level

Pollard brings out a bail from his pocket and knocks it with the handle of the bat on the ground; it reminds me of Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the early 2000s.

Kieron Pollard in at number 4

Strategic Timeout