Pooran sparkles in losing effort

MORRISVILLE, North Carolina (CMC):

Nicholas Pooran extended his healthy form in the newly minted Major League Cricket campaign, but his MI New York were left cursing the weather after going down by four runs to Washington Freedom here on Saturday.

Having posted 154 for nine from their 20 overs, with the left-handed Pooran top-scoring with 44, MI New York watched as Freedom coasted to 55 for one in the eighth over.

Thunderstorms at Church Street Park then forced players from the field for good with Freedom ahead on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern, thanks mainly to a terrible sixth over from South Africa speedster Anrich Nortje which leaked 22 runs.

Sent in, MI New York got 28 off 22 balls from opener Ruben Clinton but still found themselves stumbling on 53 for three in the eighth over.

Pooran struck five fours and a six in a 30-ball knock, while Afghan star Rashid Khan blasted a 15-ball 31 with two fours and three sixes to further rally the innings.

West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein sent down one over which cost nine runs, while left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar (3-24) and medium pacer Justin Dill (3-33) finished with three wickets apiece.

In reply, Australia's Steven Smith punched an unbeaten 46 off 28 balls, with four fours and three sixes, as Freedom recovered from the loss of Travis Head for one in the second over with three on the board, to get their chase back on course.