Despite a blistering all-round performance from West Indies star Kyle Mayers, the Seattle Orcas remain winless in the 2024 Major League Cricket season after a seven-wicket defeat to MI New York at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Mayers lit up the innings with a commanding 88 off 46 balls, as he smashed three fours and 10 sixes to power the Orcas to a formidable 200-5 in their 20 overs. But it was Monank Patel’s masterful 93, supported by Michael Bracewell’s unbeaten 50 and a late cameo from Kieron Pollard, that ensured MI New York chased down the target at 203-3 with an over to spare.
The result handed MI New York their first win in three outings, as they sit fourth in the standings with two points, while the Orcas, along with the LA Knight Riders, remain anchored at the bottom of the table, still in search of a victory after three matches.
The Orcas’ decision to bat first looked promising, especially once Mayers found his rhythm. After the early loss of David Warner (four) and Aaron Jones (10), Mayers steadied the innings alongside Shayan Jahangir, who chipped in with a 34-ball 43, which had three fours and three sixes.
Kieron Pollard and Michael Bracewell celebrate MI New York's win. (Photos: Sportzpics for MLC)
They shared in a 77-run third-wicket stand, but when Jahangir was caught by Pooran off Sunny Patel, Mayers took charge and cleared the boundary at will in a destructive display of power-hitting. His knock was a near solo act in terms of fireworks, as he dominated a 72-run stand with captain Heinrich Klaasen, and by the time he fell in the 19th over, the Orcas had already crossed the 175-run mark.
Klaasen, who posted an unbeaten 27 off 11, including three sixes and a four, and Shimron Hetmyer, who had two fours and two sixes in a nine-ball 21, added late fireworks to push the total to 200. Naveen-ul-Haq's 2-64 was the pick of MI New York's bowling.
Though MI New York lost Quinton de Kock (14) early, Monank Patel's 119-run second-wicket stand with Bracewell quickly steadied the innings. The right-hander's authoritative knock laid the foundation for the win, as he blended precision with power against the hapless Orcas' attack. He struck eight fours and seven sixes before Mayers had him caught with the score at 144-2 in the 16th over.
While captain Nicholas Pooran (seven) failed to fire, Bracewell kept the scoreboard ticking with a calculated 35-ball knock that had three fours and three sixes, while Pollard hammered four fours and a six in a brutal 26 from just 10 deliveries to seal the win.
Sikandar Raza, who accounted for de Kock and Pooran, ended with 2-37 as Mayers returned 1-41 from four overs.