Nicholas Pooran smashed a 55 ball 137 to power MI New York to the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC) title after sealing a 7-wicket win over Seattle Orcas in the final at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Sunday (July 30).
In the MLC 2023 final, the MI New York team was tasked with chasing a target of 184 runs. Nicholas Pooran, the stand-in skipper, came in to bat at number three after the early dismissal of opener Steven Taylor. Right from the start, Pooran showcased his aggressive batting style and was in demolition mode. He reached his fifty in just 16 balls and went on to achieve a century in just 40 balls.
His innings was a punishing display, comprising 13 sixes and 9 fours, and he also contributed to two fifty-plus partnerships during the chase. MI New York successfully chased down the challenging target with 4 overs to spare. Notably, Pooran’s century was the second in the MLC 2023, and it became the fastest century of the tournament, surpassing Heinrich Klaasen’s earlier record of reaching a century in 41 balls.
This remarkable achievement also earned Pooran the distinction of having the third-quickest century by a West Indian in T20 cricket. The two fastest centuries were scored by Chris Gayle (30-ball hundred for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2013) and Johnson Charles (39-ball ton for West Indies against South Africa earlier that year).
Pooran had already made a mark earlier in the year when he entered the fastest fifty list in the Indian Premier League, achieving the feat in just 15 balls while playing for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Throughout the year, Pooran had displayed great confidence in the shortest format of the game.
His outstanding innings in the final showcased his ability to single-handedly win games, earning praise from teammates, fans, and the cricketing world. Fellow players Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, and Tim David were among those who commended Pooran for his exceptional performance.
After the match, Rabada expressed his admiration, saying, “Good to see Nicky P playing the way that he is. There was no way to get him out tonight; he was incredible. That was probably close to the innings of his life. He was also facing good bowlers. It wasn’t an easy game. That was unbelievable to witness.”
Trent Boult, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 22 wickets, also praised Pooran’s fireworks with the bat, calling it a “great way to finish the tournament.”
Kieron Pollard, the MI New York captain who missed the final due to injury, shared his delight at Pooran’s exceptional performance. He emphasized Pooran’s talent and importance for the Caribbean team, stating, “Very special, this is something that’s been brewing for some time. Sometimes it hurts me not to see him much in the international arena. He’s a talent and he’s someone that we need in the Caribbean.”
Nicholas Pooran On His Winning Knock:
For Pooran, the recognition as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Player of the Final, and Leading Run-Scorer of the tournament was a testament to his hard work and dedication over the past 5 to 6 years. He expressed his satisfaction at seeing his skills finally pay off, saying, “You are going to bat like Nicky P, I told myself, and backed my skill. I just had to execute my skills, I have been working on it for the last 5-6 years.”
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