Kieron Pollard involved in heated exchange with Steve Smith in MLC 2026 eliminator; video goes viral

MI New York's veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard had a heated exchange with Washington Freedom captain Steve Smith in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 Eliminator clash at Oakland Coliseum. Pollard The incident took place where Pollard had already conceded three sixes. On the last ball, he dug one short into the surface. Smith tried to flat-bat it down the ground, almost like a tennis backhand but did not have enough power on it. Pollard collected the ball and threw it back to Smith who was able to dodge it.

As Pollard tried to rattle Smith when the game was slipping out of MI New York's grasp, the Australian smiled as he is well-versed with the former West Indies captain's tactics to force a lapse of concentration. The on-field umpires intervened as the two exchanged a few words after the over.

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Smith gets 3 lives

Earlier, Pollard had dislocated his left-hand’s little finger trying to take a sitter at long-on. Smith was batting on 69 off 27 balls then. While Pollard went off the field, Smith's run out chance was missed by Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock. He got his second reprieve when he was batting on 76. In the 13th over, he got a third life with another easy catch going down.

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Washington Freedom chase down 267

Pollard returned to bowl the 14th over after Romario Shepherd was hit for four consecutive sixes and a four by Andries Gous. But, he couldn’t make an impact or lead to Smith’s lapse in concentration. Smith and Gous went on to score their respective centuries. They shared a 241-run partnership for the third wicket as Washington Freedom chased down the target of 267, pulling off the highest run chase in T20 cricket history. 

Pollard completes 1,000 sixes

Pollard was menacing with the bat at no.4. He smashed eight sixes and a four in his 25-ball 64. His T20 career's thousandth six came off left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar. He reached his fifty from just 17 balls.

Pollard became the second batter after legendary Chris Gayle to hit 1000 sixes. Gayle is at the top with 1,056 sixes. Pollard now has 1,001 sixes from 746 games.