MINY vs WF, MLC 2023: One of the most anticipated fixtures of Major League Cricket is all set to be played between MI New York & Washington Freedom. MI New York has just won one fixture so far & is placed in fifth place at the Points table. While Washington Freedom is in firing form as they are placed in the second position with six points from four fixtures. With MI New York & Washington Freedom still in the race of qualifiers expect a neck-to-neck competition in today’s Major League Cricket tournament.
MI New York Preview
MI New York, placed 5th in the points table with two points had a mixed campaign so far. With just one win in three matches, they have shown glimpses of brilliance but have struggled to maintain consistency. Their recent 17-run defeat against Texas Super Kings exposed their batting vulnerabilities, putting pressure on the team to deliver a strong performance against Washington Freedom.
Batting has been a concern for MI, with the top-order failing to fire consistently. The team heavily relies on Tim David, who has been impressive with 125 runs at a stunning strike rate of 184. However, Nicholas Pooran, their star player, is yet to find his rhythm, managing only 97 runs in three matches. MI would be eager for Pooran to regain his form and amass crucial runs to take MI New York closer to the qualifiers.
The management’s decision to drop Dewald Brevis after two underwhelming performances might change for this fixture. This is because Brevis’s aggressive opening style can put the opposition under pressure right from the start.
On the bowling front, MI possesses a potent attack led by the world-class duo of Trent Boult & Kagiso Rabada. Boult scalped six wickets in three fixtures at an economy rate of 7.10 while Rabada fetched 6 wickets in three matches at an economy of 7.09. The duo has been exceptional maintaining an enticing economy rate. However, MI will need support from their other bowlers to build pressure on the Washington Freedom batting lineup.
Washington Freedom Preview
Washington Freedom, on the other hand, has been riding high on its recent form, securing three consecutive victories after an initial setback. Their convincing 30-run win against San Francisco Unicorns demonstrated the team’s all-round abilities.
With a formidable batting lineup, Washington Freedom’s fortunes largely depend on their openers Matthew Short (130 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of 132.65) and Andries Gous (98 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of 140). The pair has been in excellent touch, contributing crucial runs at a rapid pace. Skipper Moises Henriques (91 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of 111) has provided stability in the middle order. But the team faces a concern in the form of a competent finisher, which could be a decisive factor in the later stages of the tournament.
Washington Freedom’s bowling has been bolstered by the sensational performance of left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar, who wreaked havoc with a remarkable six-wicket haul in the previous match. He received able support from Marco Jansen (6 wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 7.97) and Akeal Hosein (5 wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 8). However, the team will hope for Anrich Nortje to step up and make a significant impact with the ball in this crucial clash.
MINY vs WF, MLC 2023: Match Details
Match: MI New York vs Washington Freedom, 13th T20I match, MLC 2023
Date and Time: July 24, Monday, 2.30 am IST
Venue: Church Street Park, Morrisville
MINY vs WF, MLC 2023: Pitch Report
The Pitch at Church Street Park is a balanced one for both batters & bowlers. The pitch is not the easy one to bat on & the batters should adopt a cautious approach & could then adopt an attacking approach once settled on the crease. The pitch is seamers-friendly & it’s a task for batters to deal with fierce pace.
Players to Watch Out:
Tim David for MI New York
Tim David is the player to watch out for MI New York. Well, his stats do the speaking for him. With 125 runs in three matches, David is the leading run-scorer for MI New York & their biggest bet in this crucial fixture.
Andries Gous for Washington Freedom
Coming to Washington Freedom they have many players who have stepped up & perform. However, they have a consistent performer in the face of Andries Gous. He has managed to score for the team on a regular basis returning with scores of 23, 28, 7 & 40. He would be their biggest bet in front of MI New York. Matthew Short too will be a valuable pick for Washington Freedom who has scored runs 130 runs in 4 matches with a strike rate of 132.
MINY vs WF, MLC 2023: Predicted Playing XI
MI New York
Monank Patel, Dewald Brevis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Tim David, Hammad Azam, Kieron Pollard (c), Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil, Kagiso Rabada, Nosthush Kenjige, Trent Boult
Washington Freedom
Andries Gous (wk), Mukhtar Ahmed, Matthew Short, Glenn Phillips,Obus Pienaar, Marco Jansen, Akeal Hosein, Dane Piedt, Moises Henriques (c), Anrich Nortje, Saurabh Netravalkar
Final Prediction
MI New York will try to bounce back & register a gleaming victory while Washington Freedom will try to maintain its winning momentum. With a place in the Qualifiers at stake both teams will put their every effort to emerge victorious. Looking at the form & stats of both the teams, Washington Freedom looks favorite to win this fixture.
And for Cricket fans, an action-packed cricket is a surety today on the grounds of Morrisville.
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