Defending champions MI New York will host 2023 finalists Seattle Orcas in the opening game of the Major League Cricket 2024. The Kieron Pollard-led side had a very rough time in the league stage of last year but they changed things quickly, dominating the latter half of the tournament.
They have some of the fiercest strikers of the ball in Nicholas Pooran, Tim David and Steven Taylor while among bowlers, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada can dominate any attack.
When it comes to Seattle, their bowling unit is a bit concerning. Zaman Khan and Nandre Burger are two exciting options but it may prove difficult for them to stop New York’s juggernaut. Among batters, Aaron Jones, Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen will be extremely vital. Pakistan’s Imad Wasim can be crucial on the slow pitches of the US too.
Church Street Park Pitch Report:
It’s a decent track. Bowling first will help and anything over 175 runs will be a good score on the surface.
NY vs SEA Probable Playing XIs
MI New York:
Steven Taylor, Shayan Jahangir, Monank Patel (wk) Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Tim David, Dewald Brewis, Rashid Khan, Romario Shepherd, Trent Boult, Ehsan Adil,
Seattle Orcas:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Nauman Anwar, Shehan Jayasuriya, Heinrich Klaasen, Shubham Ranjane, Imad Wasim, Michael Bracewell, Wayne Parnell (c), Harmeet Singh, Obed McCoy, Cameron Gannon
NY vs SEA Probable Best Players of the Match
Probable Best Batter:
Nicholas Pooran
West Indies international Nicholas Pooran was sensational in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Lately, he has been terrific in the shortest of the game and is difficult to stop when he is in the zone. Against a moderate bowling unit of Seattle, Pooran can wreak havoc.
Probable Best Bowler:
Rashid Khan
Like Pooran, Rashid was incredible in the T20 World Cup. He was one of the forces to reckon with, with the ball for Afghanistan and given his form, the spinner can prove to be dangerous.
