Nicholas Pooran’s blitzkrieg ton hands MI New York Major League Cricket 2023 title

The West Indies batter remained unbeaten at 137 off 55 deliveries - breaching the three-figure score off just 40 deliveries - and wrapping up the chase of 184 with four overs and seven wickets to spare.

Nicholas Pooran celebrates scoring ton against Seattle in the MLC 2023 final. (MI New York/Twitter)

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Captain Nicholas Pooran scored only the second ton in Major League Cricket (MLC) history to power Mumbai Indians New York to a six wicket win in the final against Seattle Orcas on Monday.

The West Indies batter remained unbeaten at 137 off 55 deliveries – breaching the three-figure score off just 40 deliveries – and wrapping up the chase of 184 with four overs and seven wickets to spare.

It was a boundary down fine leg that sealed the game – one of the 10 he managed in an innings that was also laced with 13 maximums.

All the feels 🥰 💙 🤩

Congratulations to @MINYCricket for winning the inaugural #MajorLeagueCricket Championship Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Mk1agQmgo6

— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 31, 2023

“Chatting today we spoke about creating history,” Pooran said afterwards. “We lost our captain, and a couple of players. At the end of the day I am proud as everyone contributed. We knew it was a good batting wicket, we were prepared for this moment from a week ago. We had to be confident and believe in each other. We got over the line today, we were been put under pressure earlier this week. 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 since the last 5-6 years. It was really special for me. I just want to thank all the fans and supporters, they have been really amazing.”

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Having won the toss and opting to bowl first, MI New York reduced Seattle to 183/9 in their 20 over quota. Trent Boult (3/34) and Rashid Khan (3/9) led the bowling attack from the front.

For Seattle, Quinton de Kock was the pick of the batters with his 87 off 52 deliveries.

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