MI New York’s Batting Struggles Lead to Early Exit in MLC 2024
MI New York (MINY), the defending champions, faced a disappointing early exit in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024, primarily due to inconsistent batting performances. Despite making it to the playoffs, MINY failed to replicate last year’s success, as their batting lineup struggled to find form and consistency.
Batting Woes and Inconsistent Lineup
One of the significant issues for MINY this season was their inconsistent batting order. The team experimented with five different opening pairs in seven games, but none delivered consistently. Ruben Clinton, the team’s first draft pick this year, struggled to find form, scoring less than 50 runs in five innings. Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir also failed to make an impact, with Jahangir averaging under 10 runs in four innings.
Coach Robin Peterson acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “You can’t sit and blame the domestic players. As a whole, internationals included, we weren’t consistent enough. Our players will be disappointed that they couldn’t at least make the final of this competition.”
Key Players Struggle to Deliver
MINY’s star players, including Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard, failed to deliver the match-winning performances expected of them. Pooran, who was a standout player last season, managed only one half-century in seven innings. Pollard, usually known for his explosive batting, concluded the tournament with a strike rate of just 98, far below his usual standards.
Dewald Brevis, another key player for MINY, continued to struggle, scoring only 85 runs in four innings. The young South African batter, in his third year with the franchise, is yet to have a breakthrough season.
Captain Monank Patel’s Mixed Season
USA captain Monank Patel had a mixed season, struggling initially after returning from a shoulder injury. Although he managed to score his first half-century in MLC against Texas Super Kings, consistency eluded him. He showed promise with a solid 48 off 41 in a subsequent match but couldn’t build on that momentum.
Coach Peterson highlighted Monank’s adaptability, stating, “Monank has shown that he can knock it around and use his experience and leadership. He played very well in the middle order, and maybe that’s something he should consider going forward in his career.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointing campaign, Peterson remains optimistic about the team’s future. “We are disappointed with the campaign but love the learnings that have taken place over the last two years. We’d love to win every competition, but sometimes these events don’t allow you to slip up. We’ll have to come back stronger next year,” he concluded.
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