215/6 (20.0)
CR : 10.75
245/5 (20.0)
CR : 12.25
Washington Freedom won by 30 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Mitchell Owen
155(68)
Highest Individual Scores for Kieron Pollard in T20s:
104 (St Lucia Stars) vs Tridents, Gros Islet, 2018
100*(MI New York) vs Washington Freedom, Dallas, 2026, Today*
89* (Somerset) vs Middlesex, Lord's, 2010
87* (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi, 2021
104 (St Lucia Stars) vs Tridents, Gros Islet, 2018
100*(MI New York) vs Washington Freedom, Dallas, 2026, Today*
89* (Somerset) vs Middlesex, Lord's, 2010
87* (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi, 2021
Nicholas Pooran (MI New York Captain): "[Whether 245 was too much to chase?] Honestly, we felt like we had a chance, 245. Mitch played a really superb innings. I felt like we bowled well to the other guys, but he played a superb innings, well done to him. But yeah, 245, we felt we had a chance.
[On losing 4 wickets in powerplay] It was unfortunate; Monank got out in the first couple of balls. Quinny with an unfortunate dismissal and myself and another run out in the powerplay. Those 2 run outs hurt us a lot. But having said that, scoring 200 plus having lost 4 wickets in powerplay is a really good sign.
[Positives to take from this game] Yeah, although we lost the game but felt like we have won there. I think everybody wanted him to get that hundred. He became the leading run scorer in T20 cricket. He proved again why he's a legend of the game, he's one of the best. He's one of the leader of this team and he's leading from the front. Again, he got set and gave us a chance. Hopefully, our net run-rate isn't damaged too bad."
[On losing 4 wickets in powerplay] It was unfortunate; Monank got out in the first couple of balls. Quinny with an unfortunate dismissal and myself and another run out in the powerplay. Those 2 run outs hurt us a lot. But having said that, scoring 200 plus having lost 4 wickets in powerplay is a really good sign.
[Positives to take from this game] Yeah, although we lost the game but felt like we have won there. I think everybody wanted him to get that hundred. He became the leading run scorer in T20 cricket. He proved again why he's a legend of the game, he's one of the best. He's one of the leader of this team and he's leading from the front. Again, he got set and gave us a chance. Hopefully, our net run-rate isn't damaged too bad."
10 AM IST, 11:30 PM Local Time: Time for the post-match presentation...
Power Hitter of the Match: Mitchell Owen
Play of the Day: Rushil Ugarkar (catch of Mark Chapman)
Player of the Match: Mitchell Owen
Mitchell Owen (POTM): "[How much did he enjoy that?] Yeah, it was good fun. Nice to get a few out of the middle, nice ground here, always been a good wicket, nice to spend some time out there.
[Approach and intent while batting first to cut loose] I feel like I didn't really apply myself enough last night. We know how good the wicket gets after the lights come into play. So, I felt like I needed to take responsibility after getting a good start and stay out there for a bit long. Luckily enough, that happened tonight.
[On how he sets up his innings] I sort of tend to stick into a simple process of trying to hit a few sixers. I mean, you've got to sort of read the wicket when you're batting first a little bit more, but it's a little bit easy with games before us, will be during the day, but it's definitely a nice track out there and like I said, lucky enough.
[On how he read MI New York bowlers] We'll see, I guess. I think they've bowled really well in the end to restrict us. I mean, they started bowling wide yorkers, so give credit to those guys.
[On how his body's feeling] I'm a bit sore, so I need a bit of a bit of rest and recovery. But yeah, I'll just stick to my process and hopefully continue."
[Approach and intent while batting first to cut loose] I feel like I didn't really apply myself enough last night. We know how good the wicket gets after the lights come into play. So, I felt like I needed to take responsibility after getting a good start and stay out there for a bit long. Luckily enough, that happened tonight.
[On how he sets up his innings] I sort of tend to stick into a simple process of trying to hit a few sixers. I mean, you've got to sort of read the wicket when you're batting first a little bit more, but it's a little bit easy with games before us, will be during the day, but it's definitely a nice track out there and like I said, lucky enough.
[On how he read MI New York bowlers] We'll see, I guess. I think they've bowled really well in the end to restrict us. I mean, they started bowling wide yorkers, so give credit to those guys.
[On how his body's feeling] I'm a bit sore, so I need a bit of a bit of rest and recovery. But yeah, I'll just stick to my process and hopefully continue."
Kieron Pollard: "[How do you feel after surpassing the Chris Gayle's record?] I feel well, thank you very much. Thanks to the management for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talent on the world stage for the last 20 years or so. Thanks to my friends and family for supporting me. Thank you to everybody.
[Batting in the middle order and keeping a high strike-rate] Obviously, it's very difficult. I mentioned earlier that surpassing Chris Gayle, someone we looked up to in the West Indies over time, is special. He has done great things in all formats of cricket, so again, sorry, Universe Boss, but we are both at the top there. Having said that, batting at number six or seven is very difficult. Somebody needs to do the dirty work, though, and while everyone rushes to bat at the top of the order, a cricket match involves 11 people, and everyone has a role to play. I guess my role over time was to finish matches, and I embraced that. Once you embrace the challenge and practice for it, good things come.
[How much longer do you think you'll play? Any timeline?] I don't know; I won't put a timeline on it. Faf du Plessis is my inspiration right now! But having said that, I think it's more about personal pride, motivation, wanting to play the sport, and wanting to help the youngsters in each and every team I play for. Once that desire is there, I'm going to continue. It's not going to be at the expense of any young person who wants to take the mantle, though; for me, I'm just enjoying the moment. I'm only playing three or four tournaments now.
[Difficulty switching from one capacity to the other?] I'm on the other side of the fence as well from a coaching capacity, and I think that has actually helped me in the latter part of my career. Now I have to preach what I say, and then I have to go out and do what I say, which has helped me personally. So I'll just keep doing that as long as I think I'm fit enough. Once you keep yourself in shape from a physical perspective, the muscle memory of cricket will always be there. After the IPL, I went home, took three or four days off, and then for two and a half weeks I was pounding it early in the morning. As I said, personal pride is more important to me than anything. I'm not going to come to a tournament underprepared and just say I'm going to play on legacy. That's not the right example to set for the youngsters coming up.
[Could you have imagined that the road would lead to this record?] Hell no, I'd be lying if I said that. But what I'm proud of, both individually and with all those other guys you mentioned, like Chris, is that we took a leap of faith, even though we were ridiculed a lot for it. Now you live to see guys retire from international cricket at a young age to play franchise cricket because cricket is not just a sport anymore; it's a business. One thing I've understood about human beings is that when you do something different, change is something we're not really accustomed to. I'm happy that I've lived to see this day, and I hope everyone who criticised us over the years can sit back and say, 'Cheers.' We don't need an apology. We respect each and every format of the game, but understand that just like technology, everything is changing."
[Batting in the middle order and keeping a high strike-rate] Obviously, it's very difficult. I mentioned earlier that surpassing Chris Gayle, someone we looked up to in the West Indies over time, is special. He has done great things in all formats of cricket, so again, sorry, Universe Boss, but we are both at the top there. Having said that, batting at number six or seven is very difficult. Somebody needs to do the dirty work, though, and while everyone rushes to bat at the top of the order, a cricket match involves 11 people, and everyone has a role to play. I guess my role over time was to finish matches, and I embraced that. Once you embrace the challenge and practice for it, good things come.
[How much longer do you think you'll play? Any timeline?] I don't know; I won't put a timeline on it. Faf du Plessis is my inspiration right now! But having said that, I think it's more about personal pride, motivation, wanting to play the sport, and wanting to help the youngsters in each and every team I play for. Once that desire is there, I'm going to continue. It's not going to be at the expense of any young person who wants to take the mantle, though; for me, I'm just enjoying the moment. I'm only playing three or four tournaments now.
[Difficulty switching from one capacity to the other?] I'm on the other side of the fence as well from a coaching capacity, and I think that has actually helped me in the latter part of my career. Now I have to preach what I say, and then I have to go out and do what I say, which has helped me personally. So I'll just keep doing that as long as I think I'm fit enough. Once you keep yourself in shape from a physical perspective, the muscle memory of cricket will always be there. After the IPL, I went home, took three or four days off, and then for two and a half weeks I was pounding it early in the morning. As I said, personal pride is more important to me than anything. I'm not going to come to a tournament underprepared and just say I'm going to play on legacy. That's not the right example to set for the youngsters coming up.
[Could you have imagined that the road would lead to this record?] Hell no, I'd be lying if I said that. But what I'm proud of, both individually and with all those other guys you mentioned, like Chris, is that we took a leap of faith, even though we were ridiculed a lot for it. Now you live to see guys retire from international cricket at a young age to play franchise cricket because cricket is not just a sport anymore; it's a business. One thing I've understood about human beings is that when you do something different, change is something we're not really accustomed to. I'm happy that I've lived to see this day, and I hope everyone who criticised us over the years can sit back and say, 'Cheers.' We don't need an apology. We respect each and every format of the game, but understand that just like technology, everything is changing."
Steve Smith (Washington Freedom Captain): "Nice to see you (Pommie Mbangwa)!
[You good?] Can't complain!
[How was today?] Yeah, it was good. Nice to bounce back from the last night. I thought we started exceptionally well with the bat. Mitch was phenomenal. I had the best seat in the house. He got us off to another absolute flier. It really set us up for the innings. To post 246 on the board, it was a good score. At one point, we were on track to probably 270-odd. They executed really well at the back end. We wouldn't quite get it away. Yeah, it was a nice score in the end anyway.
[Chat with the team] I think you just need to trust the players around you. And we got some quality players in the lineup. Today was tricky. As I said, they executed really well at the back end. But we have got some quality players. They know how to play the game. If they spend some time in the middle, I am sure they will come good and score big runs when we need them. Nah! We are comfortable. Being one and one; it's a nice spot to be after two games, and we go into a bit of a break now.
[On the break, and workload] Yeah, it's pretty condensed. You obviously have to manage the squad, particularly the bowlers, when you have back-to-back games. I thought everyone who played today stood up and did a really good job, and I'm just pleased that we were able to bounce back after the loss last night."
[You good?] Can't complain!
[How was today?] Yeah, it was good. Nice to bounce back from the last night. I thought we started exceptionally well with the bat. Mitch was phenomenal. I had the best seat in the house. He got us off to another absolute flier. It really set us up for the innings. To post 246 on the board, it was a good score. At one point, we were on track to probably 270-odd. They executed really well at the back end. We wouldn't quite get it away. Yeah, it was a nice score in the end anyway.
[Chat with the team] I think you just need to trust the players around you. And we got some quality players in the lineup. Today was tricky. As I said, they executed really well at the back end. But we have got some quality players. They know how to play the game. If they spend some time in the middle, I am sure they will come good and score big runs when we need them. Nah! We are comfortable. Being one and one; it's a nice spot to be after two games, and we go into a bit of a break now.
[On the break, and workload] Yeah, it's pretty condensed. You obviously have to manage the squad, particularly the bowlers, when you have back-to-back games. I thought everyone who played today stood up and did a really good job, and I'm just pleased that we were able to bounce back after the loss last night."
Two contrasting contests brought the third day of Major League Cricket 2026 to a close. In the afternoon fixture, both teams struggled to find any rhythm with the bat. The second game, however, was a run-fest, headlined by Mitchell Owen's record-shattering 155. Kieron Pollard rolled back the years with his second T20 century and ensured MI New York reduced the margin of defeat after a daunting chase.
Another double-header awaits in Major League Cricket, but for now, switch tabs and follow the Tri-Nation A Series final between India A and Sri Lanka A, along with plenty of other cricketing action from around the world.
For now, that's all we have for you. This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues AkshayaKrishna Polya, Bishal Mandal and Saptak Sanyal. Goodbye!!
Another double-header awaits in Major League Cricket, but for now, switch tabs and follow the Tri-Nation A Series final between India A and Sri Lanka A, along with plenty of other cricketing action from around the world.
For now, that's all we have for you. This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues AkshayaKrishna Polya, Bishal Mandal and Saptak Sanyal. Goodbye!!