By Tim Douglas 
Boult’s Fire and Pooran’s Finesse Power MI New York to Lifesaving Win in MLC 2025
MI New York breathed fresh life into their MLC 2025 campaign with a clinical 8-wicket win over the Los Angeles Knight Riders, fueled by Trent Boult’s stunning four-wicket burst and a calm, unbeaten partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Monank Patel.
Asked to bowl first, MI New York made early inroads into LA’s batting. Boult’s new-ball spell was a masterclass in swing bowling, dismantling the top order with movement and precision. By the end of his spell, Boult had returned figures of 4/17, rattling LA to 29/3 inside the powerplay.
Despite the early collapse, Sherfane Rutherford stood tall for LA Knight Riders. The hard-hitting left-hander produced a blistering 86 off 44 balls, single-handedly dragging his side to a competitive total of 154/8. However, the lack of support around him and frequent wickets meant LA couldn’t push beyond a par score.
The chase started nervously for MI New York, with Quinton de Kock falling early to Sunil Narine and a couple of chances going down in the field. LA’s missed opportunities proved costly. Both Pooran and Monank capitalized, settling in and expertly navigating spin and pace.
What followed was a perfectly paced run chase. Pooran, showing maturity and power, compiled 62 off 47*, while Monank anchored the innings with a composed 56 off 44*. Their 112-run unbroken stand shut the door firmly on LA’s hopes, finishing the job with 10 balls remaining.
MI New York’s bowling unit, especially Boult and Kieron Pollard (2/15), laid the foundation, and the batting duo finished it off with grace and authority.
With this crucial win, MI New York keep their playoff ambitions alive, while LA Knight Riders’ inconsistent campaign edges them toward the exit. The two teams will lock horns once again on Saturday, but only one side still has something meaningful to play for.
Match Summary:
LAKR: 154/8 (Sherfane Rutherford 86; Trent Boult 4/17, Kieron Pollard 2/15)
MINY: 155/2 in 17.5 overs (Nicholas Pooran 62*, Monank Patel 56*; Sunil Narine 1/26)
Result: MI New York beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by 8 wickets
Zainab Shafiq