[MI New York (MINY) captain Kieron Pollard received an outpouring of love from fans in Dallas as he graciously signed autographs after his team’s clash with the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) in the MLC 2023.
Although MINY suffered a 22-run defeat in their debut match in the league, the fans were treated to a thrilling display of high-octane cricket by both teams. After the match, Pollard made his way towards the stands, where he took time to interact with fans and sign autographs, leaving the supporters ecstatic.
A video shared by MINY’s Twitter handle captured the heartwarming moment, which was captioned: ‘POLLY! POLLY! POLLY!’ Love for our Skipper around the globe.
In the match, SFU won the toss and elected to bat, putting up an imposing total of 215/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Corey Anderson played a magnificent unbeaten innings of 91 off just 52 deliveries, while Shadab Khan contributed a vital 61 runs. MINY’s Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult picked up two wickets each.
In response, MINY got off to a shaky start, losing two early wickets with just 13 runs on the board. Nicholas Pooran and Dewald Brevis showed promise but failed to capitalize on their starts. The responsibility then fell on the experienced shoulders of Kieron Pollard and Tim David. Pollard, known for his big-hitting prowess, scored a quickfire 40 off 28 balls, while David remained unbeaten on a blistering 53 off 28 balls. Despite their valiant efforts, the target proved too much for their team.
Reflecting on the loss, Pollard admitted, It was just a bit too late in the end. Tim and myself decided at the timeout that we needed to accelerate. If there were two players who could have chased down the target, it was the two of us. We gave it our best shot, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
He further analyzed the match, saying, At one point, we had them under pressure. Corey and Shadab batted smartly, playing sensible shots before unleashing their attack towards the end. There are definitely areas for us to improve upon as we move forward. It’s the first game, so we’re okay with the result.
Despite the defeat, the fans’ unwavering support and love for their skipper buoyed Pollard’s spirits. In return, he took the time to show his appreciation by engaging with the fans and signing autographs.
As MINY progresses in the MLC 2023, Pollard’s leadership and presence will undoubtedly continue to have a significant impact on the team’s performances. The fans can expect more thrilling displays on the field and moments of appreciation off it as they cheer on their beloved captain.]
