MLC: Boult stars with the bat as MI NY edge Unicorns in Eliminator

Trent Boult

delivered a match-winning performance with both bat and ball as MI New York defeated San Francisco Unicorns in a thrilling Eliminator match at Dallas in the Major League Cricket.

Boult's unbeaten 22 runs off 13 balls, including two crucial sixes in the penultimate over, helped MI NY chase down SFU's target of 133 with two wickets remaining, securing their first-ever victory against the Unicorns in MLC history and advancing to face Texas Super Kings in Friday's Qualifier 2 match.The match began with MI NY captain Nicholas Pooran winning the toss and electing to bowl under the threat of rain. The decision proved effective as MI NY's bowlers, led by Nosthush Kenjige and Boult, dismantled SFU's top order, reducing them to 16 for 5 in the fifth over.Cooper Connolly attempted to stabilise the SFU innings, but Tristan Luus and Rushil Ugarkar maintained bowling pressure. After Connolly's dismissal by Luus and Hammad Azam's wicket claimed by Ugarkar, SFU found themselves at 62 for 7.

Xavier Bartlett's counter-attacking innings of 44 runs off 24 balls, supported by Brody Couch, helped SFU avoid a sub-100 total. The pair added 59 runs from 32 balls before Ugarkar broke the partnership in the 17th over, with SFU ultimately posting 133 runs.

Rain interrupted play for an hour but did not result in any reduction of overs. MI NY's chase started positively with Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock putting on 37 runs for the opening partnership.The momentum shifted when Matthew Short introduced himself into the attack in the seventh over, dismissing both de Kock and Pooran. Monank Patel and Michael Bracewell struggled to maintain the scoring rate, reaching 58 for 2 at the halfway mark.

Short returned to dismiss Monank in the 13th over, followed by Bartlett removing Kieron Pollard in the 14th. Hassan Khan then produced a remarkable spell, taking four wickets across two overs to reduce MI NY from 98 for 4 to 108 for 8.With 25 runs needed from 22 balls, Boult emerged as the unlikely hero. He targeted Hassan Khan in the 19th over, hitting two consecutive sixes over deep mid-wicket to turn the match in MI NY's favour.

Boult then guided the team to victory in the final over.Brief Scores: San Francisco Unicorns 133 in 19.1 overs (Xavier Bartlett 44; Rushil Ugarkar 3-19, Trent Boult 2-19) lost to MI New York 132/8 in 19.3 overs (Monank Patel 33, Quinton de Kock 33, Trent Boult 22*; Hassan Khan 4-30, Matthew Short 3-22) by 2 wickets.