Monank Patel scripts history (Source:@CricCrazyJohns,x.com)
MI New York finally opened their account in the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season with a resounding seven-wicket victory over the Seattle Orcas. Monank Patel was the man to watch out for as he played a sensational 93-run knock.
Monank's innings anchored a mammoth chase of 201 but also etched his name into the record books as the highest individual scorer by an American player in MLC history.
Orcas Set the Stage
Seattle Orcas, after opting to bat first, put up a formidable total of 200 for 5 in their 20 overs. The innings was ignited by a whirlwind 88 off 46 balls from Kyle Mayers, who was particularly severe on anything short or wide. He found able support from Shayan Jahangir (43 off 34), and late-innings fireworks from Heinrich Klaasen (27 off 11) and Shimron Hetmyer (21 off 9) pushed the total to the 200-mark.
MI New York’s bowlers had a tough outing. Naveen ul Haq picked up two wickets but went for 64 runs in his four overs. Michael Bracewell, Sunny Patel, and Trent Boult chipped in with a wicket apiece, but none could fully stem the flow of runs.
Monank Leads the Charge
In response, MI New York had a shaky start as Quinton de Kock fell early for 14 off 13. However, Monank Patel held his nerve and steadily built his innings before unleashing a flurry of boundaries. He was in complete control, reading the bowlers well and accelerating at the right moments.
Patel found a reliable partner in Michael Bracewell, and the duo stitched a 119-run stand for the second wicket, effectively swinging the momentum in MI’s favour. Monank’s commanding 93 came off just 50 balls, and though he narrowly missed a well-deserved century, his knock proved to be the match-defining effort.
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