Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) suffered a dramatic collapse of 10 for 50 as MI New York secured a 41-run victory after Nicholas Pooran‘s unbeaten 70 had lifted them out of their own batting problems.

At 53 without loss in the seventh over, LAKR were on track to chase 145 but Colin Munro’s run out after a mix-up with Andre Fletcher changed the game. Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige then claimed a career-best 3 for 21, including a second over which brought 12 runs and two wickets.

Unmukt Chand was lbw before Sunil Narine struck his first legal delivery for six despite Corbin Bosch‘s spectacular attempt at deep midwicket but Narine found the same fielder next ball. Kenjige added his third when he claimed the vital wicket of Rovman Powell, who had just played out a maiden from Romario Shepherd.

Shepherd helped apply the pressure with the most economical four-over spell in MLC’s brief history with 1 for 5 from four overs, while Bosch, whose first over had cost 13, claimed a pair of vital breakthroughs by castling Jason Holder and Andre Russell for ducks leaving LAKR 76 for 7.

Matthew Tromp managed a couple of sixes in a four-ball stay but any faint hopes LAKR had of pulling off the chase went when Fletcher was the ninth batter out, giving Bosch his third wicket

Russell had earlier cut through MI New York’s middle order to leave them 75 for 5 after Quinton de Kock had set up a promising powerplay with 33 off 17 balls before being deceived by Narine.

But Pooran lifted them to 144 as he struck five sixes, dominating two partnerships with Shepherd and Corey Anderson, although even he struggled for fluency. Overall, the match included 127 dot balls.

Russell’s 4 for 35 were his best T20 figures since taking 4 for 5 (which all came in a single over) for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans in the 2022 IPL.