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In a rib-tickling moment that sent both players and fans into fits of laughter, MI New York (MINY) all-rounder Kieron Pollard added a dash of humor during Match 27 of the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season by playfully tapping Los Angeles Knight Riders’ (LAKR) Andre Russell on the backside with his bat. The light-hearted incident unfolded on Saturday, July 5, at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida.
The comic scene took place on the final delivery of the 11th over during New York’s innings. Pollard had nudged the ball wide of Russell, who threw himself in a desperate dive to cut it off but ended up sprawled face-first on the turf. As Pollard ran through for a single, he cheekily smacked Russell on the rear with his bat, a playful gesture that left the commentators chuckling and the crowd in splits.
Kieron Pollard beats Andre Russell with the bat
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, MI New York found themselves in early trouble. The top order failed to fire, as both openers, Monank Patel (13) and Quinton de Kock (0) were dismissed cheaply. Tajinder Dhillon (2) also failed to make a mark, leaving the side in a precarious position. Skipper Nicholas Pooran attempted to anchor the innings with a gritty 30 off 24 deliveries, injecting some stability into a shaky start.
The middle-order rescue act came courtesy of the ever-reliable Kieron Pollard, who stood tall amidst the top-order collapse. The veteran power-hitter muscled his way to a vital 50 off 36 balls, smashing one boundary and launching four towering sixes into the stands. Thanks to his effort, MINY managed to post a fighting total of 142/9 in their allotted 20 overs. For the Knight Riders, Shadley van Schalkwyk shone with the ball, bagging three crucial scalps and stalling MINY’s momentum in the death overs.
In reply, LAKR’s run-chase stumbled right out of the gate, with Andre Fletcher falling for a mere 9 runs. However, Alex Hales and Unmukt Chand steadied the ship with a measured 57-run stand off 52 balls for the second wicket. Hales departed for a labored 21 off 26 balls, bringing Sherfane Rutherford to the crease.
Chand continued to anchor the innings and stitched together a valuable 55-run partnership with Sherfane Rutherford for the third wicket. Rutherford chipped in with a steady 29 off 28 balls, while Chand brought up a well-paced fifty. However, just as the chase reached its climax, Chand was intriguingly retired out for 59 off 48, with LAKR needing 16 runs from the final over.
Despite having heavy hitters Andre Russell and skipper Jason Holder in the middle, MINY’s Ehsan Adil held his nerve under pressure and bowled a superb final over, conceding just nine runs to seal a thrilling six-run victory for his side. LAKR were restricted to 136/4 at the end of their 20 overs, falling agonisingly short of the target.
After being adjudged the Player of the match, Pollard revealed his thoughts behind the well-crafted knock.
"What a good wicket this is. There was pressure, we lost a couple of wickets, for me personally it was a matter of digging deep and putting some runs on the board to give the bowlers a chance to defend. Trying to use the dimensions of the ground and try to think like a batter, what he is going to do. I don't have pace, bounce, swing and seam. Thanks to the Caribbean people for coming out and supporting us," Pollard said after the match.
He also talked about how coaching has supported him through the journey.
"Coaching has helped me a lot. MI gave me that opportunity and it has helped me in the back-end of my career. I am passing on that experience to the guys," the 38-year-old concluded.
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