West Indians were at the forefront of victories for both the Los Angeles Knight Riders and MI New York when action in Major League Cricket (MLC) continued on Sunday.
Playing in the day’s opening match, contributions from Andre Fletcher, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine lifted the Knight Riders to a comfortable 81-run victory over Seattle Orcas.
After being sent in to bat at Grand Prairie Stadium, the Knight Riders posted a competitive 196 in 20 overs thanks mainly to Fletcher’s 40 off 27 balls, Powell’s whirlwind 37 from just 11 balls, Holder’s 23 off 14 balls and useful knocks of 15 and 14 from Narine and Russell respectively. Russell then returned to snare three wickets, while Narine claimed two, as the Orcas were dismissed for a paltry 115 in 15.3 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer scored just 11 off 13 balls for Seattle, while Russell ended with 3-8, Shadley van Schalkwyk took 3-17 and Narine 2-18, as the Knight Riders won their second match in as many games.
In the day’s second game, Nicholas Pooran scored an unbeaten half century to lead MI New York to an eight-wicket victory over the Texas Super Kings.
Batting first, the Super Kings were bowled out for 158 in 19.2 overs.
Pooran then scored 68 not out off 46 balls with six fours and three sixes, as his side coasted to 162 for two with 14 balls to spare.
He dominated an unbroken partnership of 49 with Kieron Pollard, who scored seven not out, as MI New York registered their first win in this year’s tournament.