MI New York are one step closer to booking a spot in the inaugural Major League Cricket playoffs after an eight-wicket victory over the Washington Freedom at the Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina, on Sunday.

MI New York held the Freedom to a respectable 160-6 after winning the toss and electing to field first.

Glenn Phillips hit a 35-ball 47 while Captain, Moises Henriques, hit 32 off 30 balls for Washington.

New York skipper, Kieron Pollard, was amongst the wickets with 2-33 from his four overs.

Nicholas Pooran then starred with an unbeaten 62 as MI New York needed only 15.3 overs to reach 161-2.

The left-hander faced 33 balls and struck four fours and six sixes on his way to his first fifty of the competition.

Pooran was well supported by openers Monank Patel, who hit 44 off 29 balls, and Shayan Jahangir, who made 29. Pollard was at the crease alongside Pooran in the end, finishing 21* off just 10 balls.

The Seattle Orcas and Washington Freedom have each already secured spots in the playoffs with three teams battling for the remaining two spots.

MI New York, who play the Orcas in their last game, will be in with a win or if they avoid a heavy defeat.

The Texas Super Kings and San Francisco Unicorns are the other teams in contention for a spot and they will be facing each other in a winner-take-all clash on Monday.