MORRISVILLE, North Caroline, CMC—Nicholas Pooran extended his healthy form in the newly minted Major League Cricket campaign, but his MI New York was left cursing the weather after losing by four runs to Washington Freedom here Saturday.
Having posted 154 for nine from their 20 overs with the left-handed Pooran top-scoring with 44, MI New York watched as Freedom coasted to 55 for one in the eighth over.
Thunderstorms at Church Street Park then forced players from the field for good, with Freedom ahead on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern. This was thanks mainly to a terrible sixth over from South Africa speedster Anrich Nortje, which leaked 22 runs.
Sent in, Mi New York got 28 off 22 balls from opener Ruben Clinton but still found themselves stumbling on 53 for three in the eighth over.
Pooran arrived at number to shepherd the innings, striking five fours and a six in a 30-ball knock, while Afghan star Rashid Khan blasted a 15-ball 31 with two fours and three sixes to rally the innings further.
West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein sent down one over, which cost nine runs, while left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar (3-24) and medium pacer Justin Dill (3-33) finished with three wickets apiece.
In reply, Australia’s Steven Smith punched an unbeaten 46 off 28 balls with four fours and three sixes as Freedom recovered from the loss of Travis Head for one in the second cover with three on the board to get their chase back on course.
and then 