Trent Boult delivered a match-winning performance in the Major League Cricket (MLC), dismantling the LA Knight Riders (LAKR) batting line-up and guiding MI New York (MINY) to a crucial second win of the season.
With this victory, MINY moved up to the fifth position in the points table, overtaking LAKR, who now sit at the bottom. This win came as a major relief for MINY, who had managed only one win in their previous seven matches.
Winning the toss, MINY skipper Nicholas Pooran opted to bowl first, and his bowlers did not disappoint. LAKR were restricted to a modest total of 154/8 in their 20 overs. Sherfane Rutherford stood out for LAKR, smashing 86 off just 44 deliveries, including five boundaries and six maximums.
However, his efforts were overshadowed by Trent Boult’s exceptional four-wicket haul. Veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard also chipped in with two wickets, while Ehsan Adil and Nosthush Kenjige took one apiece.
Boult’s early breakthroughs were instrumental in breaking LAKR’s momentum. He struck in the first, third, and fifth overs of the innings, dismantling the top order in the powerplay. By the end of his first three overs, Boult had taken 3 wickets for just 11 runs.
He returned in the 19th over to pick up his fourth and final wicket, ending with figures of 4 wickets in 4 overs. For his stellar performance, Boult was rightfully awarded the ‘Player of the Match’.
In response, MI New York made light work of the 155-run target. The opening pair of Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran laid the foundation for a comfortable chase. Patel scored a quickfire 56, while Pooran remained unbeaten on 62, ensuring MINY reached the target in just 17.5 overs with eight wickets in hand.
The only two wickets for LAKR were taken by Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, offering little resistance.With this loss, LAKR’s campaign continues to spiral downward. They now sit at the bottom of the points table with just one win from eight games and a dismal tally of only 2 points.
Trent Boult is proving to be a problem for LAKR, taking three wickets in the #LexusPowerplay 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0LTLgfi895
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 4, 2025
The team has now suffered four consecutive defeats, signaling a need for urgent changes if they are to salvage anything from the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, MI New York will be buoyed by this win as they aim to build momentum heading into the final stages of the tournament.