GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, July 10, 2026 β€” MI New York kept their Major League Cricket playoff hopes alive with a 17-run victory over the Seattle Orcas on July 10, overcoming Marcus Stoinis' five-wicket haul and Tim Seifert's unbeaten 88 to defend a total of 179 for 8 at Grand Prairie.

After recovering from a shaky start through half-centuries from Kieron Pollard and Tajinder Singh, MI New York's bowlers held their nerve in the closing overs to restrict Seattle to 162 for 6. Romario Shepherd and Pollard shared four wickets to derail the chase after Seifert and Matthew Breetzke had threatened to take the game away with a century stand.
Kieron Pollard and Tajinder Singh combined for a crucial 80-run sixth-wicket partnership, helping MI New York post a competitive 179. Photo by Jonathan Steer / Sportzpics for MLC

Asked to bat first after losing the toss, MI New York stumbled early as Ryan Rickelton and Nicholas Pooran were both dismissed for six inside the opening four overs. Monank Patel and Shakib Al Hasan attempted to rebuild the innings, but their departures left the defending champions in trouble at 51 for 4 after nine overs.

Pollard and Tajinder then transformed the innings with an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Pollard played the anchor's role, striking four fours and four sixes in a measured 54 from 33 deliveries before falling to Stoinis in the 19th over.

Tajinder accelerated dramatically at the death, remaining unbeaten on 66 from just 27 balls. His innings featured nine boundaries and three sixes, with 26 runs coming from the final two overs as MI New York surged to a competitive 179 for 8.

Stoinis was the standout performer with the ball despite ending on the losing side, claiming 5 for 46 in his four overs. Ottneil Baartman supported well with 2 for 18, while Ali Sheikh chipped in with 1 for 14.

Seattle's chase suffered an early setback when Shayan Jahangir was run out for seven by a direct hit from Tajinder in the fourth over. Seifert and Breetzke responded with a 117-run partnership for the second wicket that put the Orcas firmly in contention.

Breetzke contributed a fluent 44 from 31 balls before Pollard broke the stand by bowling him in the 16th over. That wicket triggered a collapse as Seattle lost Shimron Hetmyer for 2, Stoinis for 8 and Ali Sheikh for 1 in quick succession.

Seifert continued to fight, finishing unbeaten on 88 from 61 balls with five fours and five sixes, but he lacked support in the closing stages. Shepherd removed him behind the wicket in the 19th over, effectively ending Seattle's hopes.

Needing 22 from the final over with only the lower order remaining, the Orcas fell short to finish on 162 for 6. Shepherd returned figures of 2 for 13 from three overs, while Pollard's 2 for 9 from 1.5 overs proved decisive after his earlier half-century.

The victory strengthens MI New York's chances of reaching the playoffs heading into the final round of group-stage matches, while Seattle will look to rebound despite standout individual performances from Stoinis and Seifert.

Brief scores: MI New York 179/8 (20 overs) beat Seattle Orcas 162/6 (20 overs) by 17 runs. MI New York: Tajinder Singh 66* (27), Kieron Pollard 54 (33). Seattle Orcas: Marcus Stoinis 5/46. Seattle: Tim Seifert 88* (61), Matthew Breetzke 44 (31). MI New York: Romario Shepherd 2/13, Kieron Pollard 2/9.